HARRISBURG HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION

Discrimination, Prejudice and bias: Three words that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Our purpose is to provide you with answers to questions that you may have about the Commission, our procedures and our role within the City of Harrisburg; investigating complaints of discrimination and monitoring bias-related crimes and tension within our communities.

This office is the City’s full-time official agency designed to administer, implement and enforce the provisions of the City Human Relations Ordinance prohibiting discrimination. This ordinance applies to discriminatory practices which occur within the territorial limits of the City of Harrisburg and include, but are not limited to, discrimination in the following areas: employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and lending. This ordinance also applies to employment contracted for, performed, or to be performed, within City limits, as well as those entities contracting with the city government.

The Commission initiates, receives, investigates, and attempts to satisfactorily resolve complaints alleging violation of the ordinance. This office also established programs to increase communication and eliminate prejudice among various racial, religious, and ethnic groups. The Commission offers an annual "Human Relations Camp" designed to educate metropolitan Harrisburg youth regarding values in cultural diversity. The Commission also serves as a clearing house for related information, as well as a referral source to various agencies providing a variety of services to the citizens of the Harrisburg area.

A nine-member Commission is appointed by the Mayor and must be confirmed by City Council. The Commission supervises an Executive Director, who oversees the office staff.

Questions the Commission MUST ask You
The questions the Commission must ask you depend upon the type of discrimination you are claiming (such as race, sex, disability or some other protected class under the Harrisburg Human Relations Ordinance) and the specific facts of your case. It is extremely helpful if you have as much correct and basic information (such as key names, addresses, telephone numbers and dates, etc.) when you meet with a representative from the Commission.

Examples of some questions which may be asked are:

• Have you asked for an accommodation?
  
• Have you followed your employer’s procedures for reporting sexual harassment, etc.?
  
• Have you provided your employer with medical documentation of your disability?
  
• Is your impairment temporary or permanent?
  
• Where is your employer/landlord/property located?
  
• Who was treated the same or different from you?
  
• Are you treated differently/unfairly disciplined/paid unequally at work because of your race, sex, religion, disability, national origin, age, sexual preference orientation, etc.?
  
• Have your efforts to secure or keep your housing been denied because of your race, sex, religion, disability, national origin, age, sexual preference orientation etc.?
  
• Have you been denied the ability to use or denied access to commercial property because of your race, sex, religion, disability, national origin, age, sexual preference orientation etc.?
  
• Were you humiliated or embarrassed in the encounter?
  
• Have you lost finances or paid for a lot of expenses directly out of your pocket?
  
  

Visit the FAQ SECTION of this website to find answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Harrisburg Human Relations Commission
The City of Harrisburg
McCormick Public Services Center
123 Walnut Street, Suite 235
Harrisburg, PA 17101

Phone: 717-255-3038
Fax: 717-255-6413
Email: JLewis@CityofHbg.com