The Commission's Work
The Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission (HRC) works to protect the human and civil rights of the people of Ann Arbor. Its duties are laid out in the Ordinance Creating the Commission (Chapter 8, Sec. 1:221). It has been instrumental in updating the Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance (Chapter 112) and creating both the Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance (Chapter 122) and the Ordinance Prohibiting Conversion Therapy on Minors.
The HRC helps to enforce the Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance (Chapter 112) and Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance (Chapter 122) by investigating and helping to resolve complaints of violations of these ordinances. The Human Rights Commission Flyer and Fair Access to Housing Flyer
The HRC’s nine members are Ann Arbor residents appointed for three-year terms by the Mayor and City Council.
Public Office Hours
Public office hours of the Human Rights Commission are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00pm-5:00pm and Wednesdays at 9:00am-12:00pm. Public Office Hours are intended for use only by those wishing to talk to the commission’s Staff Liaison about Human Rights Commission related matters. Members of the public wishing to meet with the Staff Liaison during public office hours must first make an appointment by contacting the Staff Liaison
Meetings
Human Rights Commission meetings are open to the public. They are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., usually in Basement Conference Room A and sometimes in City Council Chambers, at Larcom City Hall, located at 301 E. Huron St. For HRC meeting information go to http://a2gov.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx .
The HRC encourages and relies upon input from community members, who are welcome to speak during the public comment period of HRC meetings or contact the commission by emailing HRC@a2gov.org or calling 734-794-6141.
The commission adheres to these public comment period procedures at its meetings, in accordance with its by-laws:
- Guests who wish to speak must indicate their request on the sign-in sheet prior to the start of each meeting.
- The Chair shall give up to 6 members of the community 5 minutes each to address the Commission. The Chair may extend an individual's speaking time at his/her discretion.
- Public comment on non-agenda items may be limited at the Chair's discretion.
- If more than 6 people sign up to speak, the Chair may limit the time or number of comments per topic to allow more topics to be heard.
- Guests shall demonstrate respect for one another and the commissioners.
- Guests shall not participate in the commission meeting except during their own presentation. There shall be no interruptions of a guest's presentation.
- Following the public comment period, commissioners may ask speakers for brief clarifications. In some instances, commissioners may choose to place topics raised in public comment on future agendas. Speakers may then be asked to return to speak to the commission when those agenda topics are discussed.
- The Chair reserves the right to ask any guest to leave the meeting if they do not honor these rules.
Submitting Complaints to the Human Rights Commission
Complaints of Non-Discrimination Ordinance Violations
Discrimination Complaints
You can read the complete Non-Discrimination Ordinance here: Link to Non-Discrimination Ordinance
The Non-Discrimination Ordinance prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Unlawful discrimination includes discrimination because of actual or perceived age, arrest record, color, disability, educational association, ethnicity, familial status, family responsibilities, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, government-issued identification card, height, HIV status, marital status, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, veteran status, victim of domestic violence or stalking, or weight.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of Ann Arbor's Non-Discrimination Ordinance and wish to file a complaint, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form: Link to Discrimination Complaint Form. If you cannot use the online complaint submission form please email the HRC at hrc@a2gov.org or call 734-794-6141 to report your complaint and leave your phone number and/or email address so that the HRC can contact you.
Right to Sit Complaints
The Non-Discrimination Ordinance also gives employees the right to sit, when sitting does not interfere with their ability to do their jobs.
If you believe that your right to sit has been violated and wish to file a complaint, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form: Link to Right to Sit Complaint Form.
Complaints of Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance Violations
The Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance eliminates the use of criminal history in tenant selection by Ann Arbor housing providers so that people with criminal records have a fair opportunity to compete for rental housing and reside with family members and others.
You can read the complete Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance here: Link to Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance
If you believe your rights under Ann Arbor's Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance have been violated, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form: Link to Fair Chance Access to Housing Complaint Form
Filing Complaints with State and Federal Agencies
There are also state and federal agencies where you may be able to file complaints if you believe your rights under state and/or federal civil rights laws have been violated. Here are some links that may be helpful.
- Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) Discrimination Complaint Process and Explanation of the Laws MDCR Enforces. Note: The MDCR is authorized to receive and investigate complaints involving violations not only of state civil rights laws but also, through agreement with the EEOC and HUD, of certain federal civil rights laws, too.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Discrimination Complaint Form (when alleged disability discrimination is not in housing, in employment, or by airlines)
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Employment Discrimination Complaint Process
- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Housing Discrimination Information and Complaint Form
- US Department of Justice Information on Filing Civil Rights Complaints
Local Resources
Local organizations that may also be able to help you resolve your civil rights related concerns include these:
- Fair Housing Center of Southeast and Mid-Michigan
- Legal Services of South Central Michigan
- Michigan Clinical Law Program
- American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan
- Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
- The Dispute Resolution Center
HRC Reports and Resolutions
HRC Annual Reports
- HRC Annual Report 2023 Part I
- HRC Annual Report 2023 Part II
- HRC Annual Report 2022 Part I
- HRC Annual Report 2022 Part II
- HRC Annual Report 2021 Part I
- HRC Annual Report 2021 Part II
- HRC Annual Report 2020 Part I
- HRC Annual Report 2020 Part II
- HRC Annual Report 2019
- HRC Annual Report 2018
- HRC Annual Report 2017
- HRC Annual Report 2016
- HRC Annual Report 2015
Police Review
- HRC's Statement on Responses to its Civilian Police Review Report and Recommendations - July 13, 2016 (PDF)
- Police Department Response to Human Rights Commission Report - June 6, 2016 (PDF)
- HRC Police Oversight Resolution, Nov. 4, 2015 (PDF)
- Civilian Police Review: Recommendations for Strengthening Police Community Relations in Ann Arbor - Nov. 4, 2015 (PDF)
Other Resolutions
- Resolution from the HRC in Support of ICPOC Regarding Unarmed Response (July 13, 2022)
- AA HRC Traffic Stop Data Resolution (March 9, 2022)
- Resolution Condemning Offensive And-Or Hateful Speech.pdf (June 9, 2021)
- Resolution to Ban the Use of Conversion Therapy on Minors-Final.pdf (May 19, 2021)
- Resolution In Support of City Council's Condemnation of Hate Crimes, Hateful Rhetoric, and Hateful Acts Against Asians and Asian Americans -21-0617.pdf (April 14, 2021)
- Fair Chance Access to Housing Resolution (February 10, 2021)
- Resolution Supporting Issuance of an Interpretive Statement by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission Regarding Sex Discrimination Under Michigan's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (August 9, 2017)
- HRC Resolutions to Support the Michigan State Board of Education’s Guidelines on Learning Environments for LGBTQ Students (August 28, 2016) MI Board of Ed Resolution HRC 4 28 16 MI Board of Ed Resolution to CC 4 28 16 (PDF)
- HRC Resolution Urging Council to Adopt Its Proposed Revisions of the Non-Discrimination Ordinance (September 24, 2014) (PDF)
- HRC Urges Termination of the Appeal of Deboer v Snyder (March 26, 2014) (PDF)
- HRC Resolution to End ID discrimination Approved 01-11-23.pdf (PDF)
Human Rights Commission
P.O. Box 8647
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Voice Mailbox: (734) 794-6141
E-mail: HRC@a2gov.org
City Staff Liaison:
Kennedi Blair Cummings
kcummings@a2gov.org
Office: (734) 794-6291