U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORY

STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES - CONNECTICUT

Hartford Middletown New Britain New Haven Norwalk

CONNECTICUT COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITY
90 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Louis Martin, Director
Tel: (203) 541-3400
Fax: (203) 246-5068
TDD: (203) 541-3459

The mission of the Commission is to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the State through advocacy and education.

Geographic area(s) served: State of Connecticut
Type(s) of publications: Quarterly newsletter

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (CAHR)
C/O CCHRO
21 Grant Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Monica Barrett, President
Tel: (860) 541-3400
Fax: (860) 246-5068
TDD: (860) 541-3459

CAHR is a network of human rights professionals and representatives of local human rights commissions across the State to share information, provide training, support local activities, and encourage the development of human rights commissions in all Connecticut municipalities.

Geographic area(s) served: State of Connecticut
Type(s) of publications: Newsletter

MIDDLETOWN HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Municipal Building
245 Dekoven Drive
Middletown, CT 06457

William Sneed, Jr., Director
Tel: (203) 344-3497
Fax: (203) 344-0136
TDD: (203) 344-8764

The Commission's goal is to foster mutual understanding and respect among all racial, religious, ethnic, and other groups in the community. The Director is the Affirmative Action Officer and the Fair Housing Officer. The agency assists people in informing them where to go for their particular problems-to the correct agency or department that is supposed to help them. It has no legal powers. But the agency can seek to resolve problems by conciliation, persuasion, or conference. The office is a two-person office, a director and a secretary. The Commission has nine members and is independent of the office.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Middletown
Type(s) of publications: Social Services Guide

NEW BRITAIN HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
New Britain City Hall
27 W. Main Street, Room 208
New Britain, CT 06053

Brenda Simmons, Chairman
Tel: (806) 826-3410
Fax: (806) 223-7865
TDD: None

The Commission processes employment and housing discrimination complaints. It serves as the Mayor's relocation office for emergency displacements; provides hearings for the city welfare office; assists with property storage when residents are evicted; and provides referral services to residents on everything from emergency shelter to obtaining assistance with security deposits, utility payments, or pending eviction mediation. It serves as the city's affirmative action office and in that capacity monitors the human resources function within the Civil Service Commission (i.e., Personnel Department). It provides a variety of informational brochures to the public on housing and employment matters. It also provides landlord and tenant disputes resolution service.

Geographic area(s) served: City of New Britain
Type(s) of publications: Brochures

NEW HAVEN COMMISSION ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
200 Orange Street, Room 101
New Haven, CT 06510

John Cox, Director
Tel: (203) 946-8160
Fax: (203) 946-8164
TDD: None

The Commision was created by the equal opportunity ordinance. The mission is to fight discrimination against all the federally protected classes plus marital status and lawful source of income. The Commission accepts complaints of discrimination and holds a public hearing if probable cause is determined and conciliation fails. Subpoenas can be issued and penalities levied. The Director can file a complaint with the Commission if she/he has reasonable cause to believe a discriminatory practice is being or has been committed.

Geographic area(s) served: City of New Haven
Type(s) of publications: None

NORWALK HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
125 East Avenue, Room 125
Norwalk, CT 06851

Sonja M. Devitt, Director
Tel: (203) 854-7989
Fax: (203) 854-7817
TDD: None

The Commission investigates and holds hearings on complaints of discrimination in Norwalk; promotes mutual understanding and respect among all groups in the city; assures equal opportunity for all; eliminates prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination, and disorder; and conducts programs of education, study, research, and action to effect these purposes.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Norwalk
Type(s) of publications: None