Mission Statement

The Mission of the Office of Human Rights is to enforce the County's anti-discrimination laws in housing, commercial real estate, employment, public accommodations, and intimidation. The Office also provides training, public education programs, and promotes the increased understanding and tolerance among diverse groups.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Office of Human Rights is $2,145,485 an increase of $27,532 or 1.30 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $2,117,953 Personnel Costs comprise 85.50 percent of the budget for 11 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 11.60 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 14.50 percent of the FY26 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• Effective, Sustainable Government

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

Initiatives

• Increase public outreach by developing a print and social media marketing campaign to boost public engagement on the Housing Justice Act and other County laws.
• Collaborate with the Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission and community partners to create the reconciliation program for the community. The Commission and the Department of General Services are working on the completion of the historical marker site at the County Council Office Building.
• Increase public engagement on illegal lending practices and banking regulation compliance and enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which established regulations for case processing and investigations.
• Partnered with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a new case management system to better manage employment cases and improve efficacy in the complaint process.

Program Descriptions

  Compliance

This program investigates and resolves formal complaints of worker protection violations and discrimination in employment, housing, commercial and residential real estate transactions, public accommodations, and intimidations through a formal complaint process or mediation....

  Community Mediation and Public Affairs

This program supports and promotes the Human Rights Commission and Committee Against Hate Violence, Interagency Fair Housing Coordinating Group, and the Commission on Reconciliation and Remembrance in their outreach and education efforts; partners with other local, State, and Federal offices; and conducts various forums to promote increased understanding and tolerance...

  Fair Housing

This program monitors the County's Fair Housing Ordinance through the Interagency Fair Housing Work Group in order to coordinate the activity of County departments, offices, and agencies to prevent housing discrimination; and to perform testing of housing providers. The Office investigates and seeks to resolve housing discrimination complaints....

  Administration

The Office of the Director has the responsibility for the overall management and leadership of the Department. This program also includes overall policy development for the office, as well as the administration of the County's anti-discrimination laws. ...