Westchester County Human Rights Commission - Annual Report 2023-2024

The Westchester County Human Rights Commission's 2023-2024 Annual Report details the agency's efforts to enforce human rights and fair housing laws, and conduct community outreach. Key activities and achievements include:

Enforcement Actions:

• A six-figure settlement for housing discrimination involving sexual harassment and retaliation at nearly 30 residential buildings, including over $100,000 paid to the County and significant policy reforms.
• A $70,000 settlement for employment discrimination based on gender and marital status against the same management company, with a five-year monitoring period.
• A five-figure settlement for disability discrimination in housing, requiring property modifications like permanent ramps and automated doors.
• Another five-figure settlement for disability discrimination, requiring a condominium association to make its community room and pool accessible, with $50,000 paid to the County.

Legislative Updates (June 2023):

• Expanded protections under the Human Rights Law to include employers of all sizes and all Westchester County-based employees (except County employees), domestic workers, and interns.
• Prohibited discrimination against independent contractors and vendors.
• Added protections based on military status.
• Clarified "race" to include hair texture and protective hairstyles.
• Defined "pregnancy-related condition" and treated it as a temporary disability.
• Extended the deadline for filing workplace sexual harassment complaints from one to three years.
• Amended "source of income" definition in the Fair Housing Law to include various forms of public assistance and housing vouchers.

Operating Statistics:

• Requests for Assistance (RFAs) increased from 642 in 2023 to 704 in 2024.
• Filed complaints increased by over 45%, from 60 in 2023 to 88 in 2024.
• The Commission facilitated 12 settlement conferences/mediations in 2023 and 32 in 2024.

Education and Outreach:

• The Commission participated in numerous community events, heritage fairs, and partnered with various organizations to educate the public on their rights and combat hate and discrimination.
• Collaborated with the District Attorney's office to reach over 10,000 students on combating hate and bias.
• Hosted events and film screenings focused on civil rights issues, fair housing, and specific community histories (e.g., Lenape people, Asian American history, LGBTQ+ issues).