NEW CITY – The Rockland County Human Rights Commission has received certification for an additional five-year term with full powers to act as an agency of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate housing discrimination claims in Rockland County.

Under this official designation, the Human Rights Commission can act as an agent for HUD to investigate housing discrimination in Rockland County under the Federal Fair Housing Act. HUD granted the extension, which is effective immediately, after a thorough audit of the commission’s policies and procedures and their recognition of local housing laws. Rockland County was the first county in the tri-state area to achieve such recognition by HUD.

For over 46 years, the Rockland County Human Rights Commission has helped residents and improved communication in the community by sharing information with similar agencies to address and prevent discrimination in all forms. 

In recent years, the commission has instituted a number of outreach programs, including the Executive Lecture Series, with experts speaking about issues related to civil and human rights; Leadership conferences, which are day-long symposiums pertaining to housing and human rights issues; and the Montage program, which enlists leaders of different ethnic groups to come together to build human dignity.