Despite the best efforts of federal, state, and local governments, discrimination still exists. However, as Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has repeatedly stated, there is no place for discrimination in Westchester.
About the Human Rights Commission
The mission of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission is to combat discrimination through the enforcement of the Westchester County Human Rights Law and Fair Housing Law, to engage in education and outreach to educate the public on its rights and obligations under these laws, and to help promote positive racial and ethnic relations among Westchester’s diverse population.
The Human Rights Commission is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has a full and fair opportunity to housing because diverse, inclusive communities with access to good jobs, schools, health care, transportation, and housing are crucial to our nation’s prosperity in the 21st century.
The Human Rights Commission is further committed to fighting discriminatory practices in housing which have perpetuated segregation in our communities and resulted in significant disparities between white and non-white households in access to good jobs, quality education, homeownership attainment and asset accumulation.
Fair Housing is Your Right
The Westchester County Fair Housing Law, which is broader and more comprehensive than federal law, recognizes 16 different protected classes (federal law only recognizes 7):
Race, Color, Religion, Sex/Gender, Familial Status, National Origin, Disability, Age, Alienage/Citizenship Status, Ethnicity, Creed, Sexual Orientation, Marital Status, Victim of Domestic Abuse, Victim of Sexual Abuse, Victim of Stalking, Source of Income
If you feel that you have been discriminated against on any of the above bases by a current or prospective housing provider/real estate agent in Westchester County, please contact the Westchester County Human Rights Commission at:
112 East Post Road 3rd Floor
White Plains, New York 10601
Tel: (914) 995-9500