Human Relations Commission

Ensuring Equal Opportunity

The Allegheny County Human Relations Commission was established in 2009 to assure that all persons enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are afforded equal opportunities for employment, housing, and use of public accommodation.

The Commission's role is to ensure those benefits and opportunities regardless of a person's race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry or place of birth, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, familial status, age, or use of a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or physical disability.

Commission Members

The HRC consists of seven members appointed by the County Executive with the approval of County Council. All members of the commission must be residents of the county at the time of appointment and throughout their service.  Members of the HRC serve for four years.

Commission Members

Filing a Complaint

You may want to file a complaint with the Human Relations Commission (HRC) if you believe you have been subjected to discrimination based on the following criteria.

The complaint must be filed within one year of when the alleged act of discrimination occurred.  

Complaint Criteria

  1. Discrimination is any exclusion, denial, intimidation, coercion, difference or segregation in treatment based on a person’s protected class.

  2. Discriminated in
    • Employment (in hiring, referring for hire, promoting, training, membership in employee or labor organizations)
    • Housing
    • Use of public accommodation facilities
  3. On the basis of
    • Race
    • Color
    • Religion
    • National origin
    • Ancestry
    • Place of birth
    • Sex
    • Gender identity or expression
    • Sexual orientation
    • Disability
    • Marital status
    • Familial status
    • Hairstyle
    • Age
    • Use of a guide or support animal because of blindness, deafness or physical disability

 
Complaint Procedure

Complaints can be filed using the following forms or may be requested by calling 412-350-6945.

Intake Forms

Mail the completed forms to:
    Allegheny County Human Relations Commission
    920 City-County Building
    414 Grant Street
    Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Review Procedure

The HRC reviews a complaint and may conduct a hearing before making and issuing its decision.  All hearings are open to the public.

  1. Once a complaint is filed the commission has 100 days to determine whether there is probable cause an act of discrimination specified in the code has been committed.
  2. If it is determined that there is no probable cause the Commission shall within 10 days notify the Complainant.  The Complainant has 10 days after notice to file an appeal to present additional information in support of the complaint.   The Commission may reinstate the complaint if additional information presented warrants such reinstatement. 
  3. If the Commission determines that an investigation is warranted, the Commission has the power to issue and enforce a subpoena as part of the investigation if necessary.
  4.  At any time after the complaint is filed the Commission may endeavor to provide proper redress for the Complainant through conciliation with the Respondent.   
  5. If the Commission, in its discretion, finds it is not possible to eliminate such unlawful practices by persuasion, the Commission shall issue notice of  a hearing before the Commission at a time and place to be specified in such notice.
  6. The case in support of the complaint shall be presented to the Commission or a permanent hearing examiner designated by the Commission. Both the Complainant and the Respondent may appear at the hearing with or without counsel and submit testimony and both the Commission and the Complainant may reasonably and fairly amend any complaint or answer. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and be transcribed.
  7. If after hearing the case the Commission finds the Respondent has or is engaging in any unlawful discriminatory practices according to the code, the Commission will state its findings, issue an order requiring the Respondent to cease and desist from the unlawful discriminatory practices, and to take affirmative action including but not limited to:
    • Employee hiring or reinstatement
    • Membership restoration
    • Compensation for loss in matters involving the complaint
    • Acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of housing accommodations or commercial property
    • Fixing housing accommodations with equal facilities
    • Any other verifiable, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses caused by unlawful discriminatory practice, or other compensation
  8. In cases alleging a violation of the Fair Housing Act, the Commission may award actual damages(See § 215-37-L for specific amounts) and include a requirement for report of the manner of compliance.
  9. If, upon all the evidence, the Commission finds the Respondent has not engaged in any unlawful discriminatory practices, the Commission shall state its findings of fact and shall issue an order dismissing the complaint.
  10. If the Commission concludes at any time following the filing of a complaint that prompt judicial action is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable harm, the County, on behalf of the Commission, shall commence an action in the Court of Common Pleas, and that Court may grant an appropriate preliminary or special injunction pending final disposition of the complaint. Any such order or relief shall be granted in accordance with Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Section 1531.
  11. Any appeal for a decision of the Commission shall be made to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Any person suffering a legal wrong or adversely affected or aggrieved by an order or decision of the Commission is entitled to a judicial review thereof by filing a written petition for such review with the Commonwealth Court.

Resources

On July 1, 2009, Allegheny County Council enacted Ordinance Number 26-09-OR that established the Human Relations Commission (HRC) of Allegheny County.

If you believe you have been discriminated against in housing, employment or the use of public accommodation facilities, these resources may provide valuable information.

General Contact

Click here to view form.

Meetings & Minutes

The Human Relations Commission (HRC) conducts monthly public meetings throughout the year.

Date and Time

First Wednesday of every month at 9:30 am.

Location

Human Resources Conference Room
City-County Building
414 Grant Street, Suite 920 
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Map icon for linked directions Google Directions

Dial-in: 605-313-5347 (Access Code: 329868)
Teams: Meeting Link  (Meeting ID: 287 962 830 060, Passcode: xj7RV2aU)

Minutes

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

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