045 - Human Relations 2019 Statement

BUDGET STATEMENT
FY2019
MONA NORIEGA
CHAIR AND COMMISSIONER
CHICAGO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
October26, 2018
Honorable Chairman Austin and Honorable Members of the City Council Committee on the Budget and
Government Operations:
On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and staff, I hereby submit the following statement in support
of the Mayor’s 2019 Budget Recommendation for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR).
Discrimination and prejudice can serve as barriers in equal access to jobs, housing, and public
accommodations, and are the basis for community tensions and hate crimes. Thus the CCHR continues
bilingual outreach efforts with community-based organizations, chambers of commerce, schools, and
faith-based institutions, to educate communities on their rights and their obligations to avert
discrimination as provided under the Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances. We also work
to prevent hate crimes and upon request respond to intergroup tensions through educational trainings,
mediations, and peace circles.
Background
The Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) serves as the City of Chicago’s Civil Rights agency.
The CCHR addresses issues of discrimination by enforcing the Chicago Human Rights and the Fair
Housing Ordinances. We carry out this work through our Adjudication Unit, Inter-Group Relations Unit
(IGR), and Advisory Councils.
• The Adjudication Division receives and investigates complaints of discrimination in the areas of
housing, employment, public accommodations, and credit. While there are 16 protected classes
under the ordinances, most complaints are based on race, gender, disability, or source of
income. If an investigation reveals substantial evidence of an ordinance violation, an
administrative hearing will be held. However, we encourage parties to enter into a settlement
agreement at any time. At the conclusion of the administrative hearing, a hearing officer will
prepare a recommended decision that is presented to our Board of Commissioners. If the Board
rules that discrimination has occurred, violators can be ordered to pay damages, attorney fees,
and fines to the city. Injunctive relief may also be ordered.
• CCHR’s Inter-Group Relations Unit (IGR) mediates conflicts, most often based on race, advocates
on behalf of victims of hate crimes, and proactively works to prevent discrimination through the
delivery of educational programs in schools and communities most at risk for violence based on
bias and stereotypes.
1
• The CCHR’s Equity Advisory Council convenes representatives of the protected classes to serve
as a resource for the Mayor and City Council on policy matters regarding civil rights and assist
the CCHR in creating programs and outreach strategies for communities that experience
discrimination and hate-based violence.
Investigating and Adjudicating Discrimination Complaints

Delivering a quality and timely neutral complaint process for individuals who seek to file a discrimination
complaint is the primary means by which to deliver on the City’s mandate to address bias and
discrimination. When a person (referred to as a “complainant”) files a discrimination complaint with our
office, it is most often because they believe they have been wrongfully denied an employment
opportunity, a place to live, or access to a public place or service. The CCHR represents the City’s
commitment to civil rights and the process by which the complainant seeks redress.
The CCHR has continued to strive to deliver the most thorough and efficient investigations of
discrimination complaints possible. High quality and timely investigations are essential to protecting the
rights of both parties to a complaint and ensuring that justice is served.
From January 1, 2018 through September 28, 2018, the CCHR received 169 new discrimination
complaints. Housing uncharacteristically represented the most frequently filed basis with 68
complaints, followed by employment, typically the area with the most complaints, with 62, and public
accommodations with 39. The number of complaints filed this year is slightly above the 167 total
complaints filed at this time last year.
Housing complaints increased by 28% over 2017 totals with source of income complaints based on
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) discrimination being the most frequently cited basis. This is a
pattern the CCHR has documented now for many years, and is the rationale behind launching a fair
housing testing and training program from 2017 to 2018, which is discussed in more detail below.
Employment discrimination complaints thus far have actually shown a decrease of 23% from 2017. This
is surprising, particularly in light of the #MeToo Movement. While we expected to see an increase in
sexual harassment complaints, this hasn’t materialized, even after an extensive outreach and media
campaign we helped conduct to educate women and men about this problem.
Public accommodation complaints, however, have increased 18% in 2018. This may reflect CCHR’s
renewed emphasis on outreach with the implementation of our new regulations regarding disability
access. In preparation for the July 1, 2017 effective date for the new regulations, CCHR staff conducted
extensive outreach to businesses, chambers of commerce, and disability advocacy agencies to share
information about the new regulations.
2018 Initiatives
Fair Housing Testing and Training Program

Discrimination against Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holders is the most prevalent form of housing
discrimination in terms of complaints received by the CCHR. In 2017, 36% of fair housing complaints
received by the CCHR were based on source of income discrimination/HCV complaints. To help address
this continuing problem, in 2017 the CCHR successfully advocated for funding through the CDBG
Program to conduct fair housing discrimination tests based on HCVs. The Lawyers Committee for Civil
2
Rights (LCCR) was retained as the consultant on this two year initiative. The testing program, now
complete, targeted specific areas where higher levels of complaints about HCV discrimination have been
received by the CCHR. Following the testing phase of the project, fair housing training was conducted in
those areas to help landlords and real estate professionals better understand the law.
Building Bridges between the Police and the Muslim Community

In our continuing efforts to increase our outreach to the Muslim Community, in 2018 the CCHR co-
hosted Ramadan Iftars with the 8th, 17th, and 25th Police Districts. For many community members, this
was their first opportunity to meet and talk with police officers in an informal setting where they could
truly begin to learn more about one another. The International Human Relations Council on the city’s
Southwest Side co-sponsors the program and is instrumental in assisting the CCHR in our outreach to
the Muslim community. The Iftars create safe and respectful opportunities for shared learning and
dialogue, while building stronger communities.
CCHR Quarterly Newsletter

In 2018 the CCHR created its new quarterly newsletter, “CCHR a Closer Look.” The newsletter highlights
the work of the agency, new changes in the law, and other information that is distributed by email to
hundreds of community groups, government agencies, elected officials, and community partners. The
first edition was launched in April 2018, followed by the second in July, and the latest edition was just
released October 1.
Increased Mediation Capacity

To provide additional assistance in resolving community conflicts, the First Deputy Commissioner
completed training to become certified to conduct court mediations. He is currently mediating cases in
the Circuit Court of Cook County and will provide additional support for CCHR’s Inter-Group Relations
Unit.
We are proud of these accomplishments and look forward to implementing additional innovations in
program delivery. The ultimate goal is to create a more efficient and effective Commission to serve the
needs of Chicagoans facing discrimination. We hope that you will give the Mayor’s budget request for
our department your most thoughtful consideration, so we may continue to improve upon this
important work. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Mona Noriega,
Chairman and Commissioner
Enclosures

045 - Human Relations 2019 Statement

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

045 - Human Relations 2019 Statement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BUDGET STATEMENT

Investigating and Adjudicating Discrimination Complaints

Fair Housing Testing and Training Program

Building Bridges between the Police and the Muslim Community

CCHR Quarterly Newsletter

Increased Mediation Capacity

You might also like