Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Board of Commissioners
Mischelle Causey-Drake
Rev. Randall Doubet-King
Charles P. Fischbach
Mark A. Flores
Wynetta A. Frazier, PhD
Kendra J. Jackson
Denise Lam
Samuel Miller, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Sid Mohn
Farouk Mustafa, PhD
Joseph A. Podlasek
Lucy Robles-Aquino
Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman
Rouhy J. Shalabi
Edwin B. Silverman, PhD
Audrena Spence
Michael Towns
Jose A. Velgara
Bernarda Wong
Human Relations
The Commission on Human Relations promotes appreciation of Chicago's diversity and works to eliminate prejudice and discrimination. Commissioners, advisory councils, and staff conduct pro-active programs of education, intervention, and constituency building to discourage bigotry and bring people from different groups together. The Commission enforces the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and the Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance, which prohibit discrimination within the city of Chicago in the following areas:
- Housing
- Employment
- Credit Transactions
- Bonding
- Public Accommodations
The Commission investigates discrimination complaints, then if there is substancial evidence of a violation, the Commission conducts an administrative hearing and issues a ruling, which may impose fines, damages, and injunctive relief if a violation was proved. The Commission implements the Hate Crimes Ordinance by monitoring hate crimes in Chicago and aiding victims.
Persons who feel they have been discriminated against in Chicago because of membership in one or more of the following 14 "protected classes" may file a complaint with the Commission:
| Race | Ancestry |
| Sex | Sexual Orientation |
| Color | Gender Identity |
| Age | Marital Status |
| Religion | Parental Status |
| Disability (Mental or Physical) | Military Discharge Status |
| National Origin | Source of Income |
A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. Prevailing complainants may receive out-of-pocket damages, emotional distress damages, attorney's fees and costs, and in some cases, punitive damages. A respondent found liable must also pay a fine to the City.
Most Recent News (Human Relations)
Service Providers
- Advisory Council on African Affairs
- Advisory Council on Arab Affairs
- Advisory Council on Asian Affairs
- Advisory Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs
- Advisory Council on Latino Affairs
- Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues
- Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs
- Advisory Council on Women
- Community Tensions and Hate Crimes
- Discrimination Cases
- Education Services
- Special Events and Programs
Supporting Information
- 2010 Seventh Grade Essay Contest
- Discrimination Complaint Forms
- Discrimination Complaints Investigations
- File a Discrimination Complaint
- File a Human Relations FOIA Request
- Ordinances and Regulations
- Recursos sobre discriminación en español / Discrimination Resources in Spanish
- Respond to a Discrimination Complaint Filed Against You
Department Main Office
Human Relations
- Phone: 312.744.4111
- TTY: 312.744.1088
- Fax: 312.744.1081
- 740 North Sedgwick Street
- Suite 300
- Chicago, IL 60654
