Promotes equal access by providing education and awareness of fair housing laws. Seeks to resolve allegations of illegal discrimination through education and informal resolution. This office does not provide legal advice.

Awareness includes:

• Fair housing issues with discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status (families with children) and disability
• Disability rights in housing, including rights involving assistance animals
• Provides free training to tenants, landlords, property managers, and/or any interested individuals as it relates to fair housing laws and rights and responsibilities in housing.

The Sioux Falls Human Relations Office serves the community through:

• Equal Employment Opportunity Promotion: Administers, enforces, and educates the public on equal opportunity in employment with respect to application, hiring, training, apprenticeship, promotion, tenure, up-grading, compensation, layoff, discharge, and any term or condition of employment, including sexual and racial harassment and discrimination in employment based upon race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability.
• Equal Employment / Mediation of Disputes: (Non-enforcement), affirmatively seeks to resolve disputes and to seek agreements between the parties where violations of the Civil Rights Laws are alleged. Both formal and informal mediation and conciliation are available.
• Equal Opportunity Recourse Through Legal Enforcement: Primary authority to apply sanctions against those who discriminate against others because of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or disability. Enforcement powers include orders to hire, reinstate, promote, awards of back pay, damages and cease and desist orders.
• Civil Rights Promotion (Legally Mandated): Administers and enforces the Civil Rights Laws under the Code of Ordinances of Sioux Falls Chapter 98.
• Americans with Disabilities Act: Provides information and guidance on discrimination related issues as protected by the ADA, including requests for reasonable accommodations and modifications.
• Fair Housing: Protects residents of Sioux Falls from illegal acts of discrimination in all aspects of housing through enforcement of Fair Housing laws under the Code of Ordinances of Sioux Falls Chapter 98. Provides education and awareness of fair housing laws and illegal discrimination. Fair Housing seeks to informally resolve disputes where a civil rights violation appears to have occurred. Fair Housing does not provide legal advice.

Individuals may file a written discrimination complaint with the Human Relations Office if they believe they have been treated unfairly because of their race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, ancestry, familial status, or disability. Office does not provide legal representation or advice.

Builds power and enables healing in refugee, immigrant, and Muslim communities by amplifying their voices and working in solidarity with all who dismantle bigotry and racism. SDVFP accomplishes this by educating communities on relevant issues;providing free immigration legal services for eligible children;encouraging civic engagement in refugee, immigrant, and Muslim communities;and providing other programming.

• Information and referral
• Abuse, neglect and rights violations based on disability
• Discrimination based on disability
• Employment
• Social Security/SSI/SSDI and how to incorporate benefits into your ability to work
• Voting

Reporting potential housing discrimination, an investigation will be conducted if warranted. Reports can be completed via phone or online.

To file a complaint online or get information regarding fair housing rights please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUDsrc=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp