Office of Human Rights

The Pinellas County Office of Human Rights is committed to protecting all residents of Pinellas County from cases of discrimination in the areas of fair housing, employment, public accommodations, and government programs and assistance.

These include:

Race Color Religion National Origin

Marital Status Familial Status Pregnancy Gender (including Gender Identity and Gender Expression)

Sexual Orientation Sexual Harassment Age Disability

 

The Director of Human Rights has responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Office of Human Rights and serves at the pleasure of the Human Rights Board.

 

 In the News

 

Update on webinar! If you were unable to join us for the event below, you can watch a recording of the event at the following link: COVID19 and Fair Housing.

 

You are invited to join the Office of Human Rights and the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA) for a FREE webinar: "Fair Housing Matters: The Challenges of Housing Access in a Racially Divided Nation During COVID-19" on Thursday, August 13, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT / 11 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. PT.

 

Hear from HUD FHEO Assistant Secretary Anna Maria Farias, as well as national fair housing experts. Discussions will include: Unique Fair Housing Issues Presented by COVID-19; Best Agency Practices in the Age of Pandemic; and Fair Housing and COVID-19 as seen through Race and Gender Equity Lenses.

 

Speakers:
• HUD FHEO Assistant Secretary Anna Maria Farias
• HUD FHAP Director Joseph Pelletier
• Professor Michael Seng, UIC John Marshall School of Law
• Michael Allen, Esq., Relman Colfax, LLC
• Amy Nelson, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
• Melody Taylor, HUD Regional Director/NFHTA Senior Advisor
• Jeffrey May, International Development & Planning, LLC
• Steve Tomkowiak, Esq., Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit
• Akita Smith-Evans, DC Office of Human Rights
• Stella Adams, SJ Adams Consulting
• Lisa Rice, National Fair Housing Alliance
• Megan K. Whyte de Vasquez, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice

 

 Discrimination - ADA Public Accommodations

 

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public accommodations, such as public parking spaces, ramps and railings must be accessible, and service animals must be allowed access. The Americans with Disability Act guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment and transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. Grievances concerning protections specifically provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act are filed separately from other claims. more >

 

• ADA/Section 504 Grievance Process
• Florida State Courts System request for accommodation - Request for reasonable accommodations if you are a defendant, litigant/party, witness, juror, victim, or attorney.
• Florida State Courts System Interpreter Request - Request for interpreter if you are a defendant, litigant/party, witness, juror, victim, or attorney.

 

Discrimination - Employment

 

Pinellas County prohibits discrimination in the workplace and covers recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, pay, tenure, discipline, discharge, and privileges. Employment discrimination charges may also be filed with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. more >

 

Note to employers: The Pinellas County Office of Human Rights also conducts scheduled training sessions for public and private organizations upon request. These training programs address issues such as sexual harassment, diversity, and equal employment opportunity. For more information on training programs contact the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights at (727) 464-4880, and ask for the training coordinator.

 

Discrimination - Fair Housing

 

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability. This applies in the sale and rental of housing and mortgage lending. more >

 

Discrimination - Government Programs and Assistance /
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

 

Pinellas County prohibits discrimination in the operation of any federally assisted program on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Pinellas County makes every effort to assist those with limited English proficiency, including maintaining a list of employees fluent in languages in addition to English to help with translations and utilizing Google translator program on the website. More information can be found at the following links:

 

• Pinellas County's Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan
• Title VI Policy and Grievance Procedure
• File a Claim: Online Form  -  Printable Form

 

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Federal Anti-Discrimination Resources

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
  Responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  

  The resources on this page will help you to understand your rights and to find out where to go for help.

• U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  Know your rights and the newest laws.

 

Other Information or Resources:

 

• Pinellas County's most recent Analysis to Impediments to Fair Housing Choice may be found here:
  FY 2016-2017 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
• Pinellas County's most recent Equal Employment Opportunity Plan submitted to the Department of Justice may be found here:Equal Employment Opportunity Plans Utilization Report