The Chicago Commission on Human Relations ( CCHR ), the city's civil rights agency charged with enforcing ordinances and investigating complaints, has announced two changes to the Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances.
Military status has been added as a protected class under the Human Rights Ordinance and the Fair Housing Ordinance. The CCHR has also made it illegal for landlords, realtors or other parties to retaliate against those who file a housing discrimination complaint against them under the Fair Housing Ordinance.
According to CCHR's press release announcing these changes, "This amendment would make it illegal to discriminate against veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists and members of the National Guard. Currently, the only protection under the ordinances for veterans is the prohibition of discrimination based on military discharge status."
This change covers both employment and housing protections.
CCHR Commissioner Mona Noriega explained that this change was made due to what the commission heard from members about discriminatory treatment they experienced in the areas of housing, employment and credit during the monthly Veterans Advisory Council meetings.
"The City of Chicago has prioritized serving veterans and advancing military status as a protected category was one way our office could deliver on these priorities," said Noriega.
In the area of retaliation in housing, the CCHR is expanding what they've already done in terms of employment discrimination to the Fair Housing Ordinance.
"Our hope is that this added protection will help victims of housing discrimination feel safer about filing complaints," said Noriega.
In addition to these changes, the commission has been working to align the City of Chicago's Human Rights and Fair Housing ordinances with the Federal government's Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). CCHR is working with the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities ( MOPD ) to amend these ordinances and regulations.
"In addition, we have really stepped up education, whether it be easy to read fact sheets, or reaching out directly to small businesses and small landlords so they understand what their rights and obligations are in regards to providing access," said Noriega. "The issue of hate crimes continues to be a priority for the CCHR and we use all opportunities to discuss what constitutes a hate crime, how to report a hate crime and to go into schools to deliver anti-bullying workshops and peace circles as one of the ways to reach children and prevent hate crimes."
CCHR has named Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry its new policy and outreach director. In her post, Saulsberry has been working on a variety of initiatives and programming including in partnership with the MOPD to convene a discussion with disability activists on issues faced in the disability community.
"Kelly has also taken the lead in a year-long delivery of trainings across the city in partnership with CHA on housing discrimination, and along with CCHR staff Kelly participated in a press conference hosted by the Southwest Side International Human Relations Council, a diverse coalition of community-based organizations and residents that promotes peace and understanding between Chicago's Muslim communities and other racial, ethnic and religious communities in Chicago," said Noriega.
CCHR has also added Julio Rodriguez to its board of commissioners.
"The Board of Commissioners are the last step in the adjudication of complaints of discrimination that are filed at the CCHR," said Noriega.
"Each of the board members are experts in how discrimination affects the protected classes in the areas the CCHR has jurisdiction housing, employment, public accommodations, credit and bonding. As a longtime organizer in the Latino and in the LGBTQ communities and as expert in employment issues, Julio's intersectional perspective on the issues that come before the board will help ensure that the CCHR delivers on our mission of advancing civil rights for the people who live and visit the City of Chicago."
"As the newest member of the board of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, I'm honored to be a part of this very critical body," said Rodriguez. "Given the recent events in our city, it's even more important for community leaders to work closely with both our elected officials and key staff in the administration to ensure that the rights of all Chicago residents are protected. It's also imperative that we create more transparency and opportunities for everyone's voices to be heard. As a gay Puerto Rican man, who was born and raised in Chicago, I've seen the best and the worst of this city. I hope in my role on the Board, I can bring a different and unique perspective on how discrimination impacts different communities and offer new solutions to address them."
In addition to Rogriguez's appointment and the changes to the Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances, the CCHR has announced that gay staff attorney Abel Leon will be leaving the commission staff.
Previously, Leon worked as an EEOC investigator for the City of Chicago's human resources department. Noreiga noted that this work lended itself to his work at the CCHR.
Noriega explained that Abel was instrumental in the expansion of anti-discrimination protections to include military status as well as the addition of retaliation protections in housing. In his time at the CCHR, Noriega noted that Leon expanded outreach to the Latino community via Spanish speaking presentations on a variety of subjects, prepared and delivered various trainings as a part of CCHR's partnership with Chicago Community Trust's ADA 25 and conducted outreach to local bar associations among other endeavors.
"I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such great advocates of social justice issues," said Noriega. "While we're sorry that Abel will no longer work for the City of Chicago, the recent appointment of Julio to the CCHR Board, the addition of Kelly to the staff, plus the dedication of long-time staff, helps keep the momentum going to advance civil rights for the people who live and visit the City of Chicago."
See www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cchr.html for more information .