HELP AGAINST DISCRIMINATION

IN

EMPLOYMENT - HOUSING - PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION

The City of Sarasota prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation for the following:

PROTECTED CLASSES

	Age	National  origin
	Color	Race
	Disability	Religion
	Gender	Sexual  orientation
	Marital  status	Veteran  status

The City of Sarasota has a law that provides a way to address discrimination informally through a conciliation/ public hearing process. The goal of this process is to resolve discrimination complaints without having to go to court. Should conciliation fail to resolve the issue, a public hearing is also available.

You may be eligible to use this process if you meet the pre-qualifying guidelines described in this brochure.

If you are in a protected class and believe you have been discriminated against in the areas of employment, housing, or public accommodation you may qualify for help.  The alleged discrimination must have occurred within the city limits of Sarasota and must have occurred within 90 days in order to qualify for help.

PRE-QUALIFYING QUESTIONS

Please answer the following five pre-qualifying questions to see if this process may help you:

1.	Do you believe you have been discriminated against regarding employment, housing, or public accommodation?		Yes		No
2.	Do you believe this alleged discrimination was because you belong to one of the protected classes in the list on page 1?		Yes		No
3.	Did this alleged discrimination occur within the city limits of Sarasota?		Yes		No
4.	Did this alleged discrimination occur within the last 90 days?		Yes		No
5.	If you file a complaint, will it be the first time you have filed a complaint for this claim of alleged discrimination?		Yes		No
6.	Have you filed your complaint with another agency?		Yes		No

DO I QUALIFY TO FILE A COMPLAINT?

If you answered YES to each question you may be eligible for help through the conciliation/public hearing process.  You may wish to file a complaint with the City’s Human Relations Board.

EXEMPTIONS

There are several exemptions from the new law.  An explanation of these exemptions will be sent to you upon request.

HOW DO I FILE A COMPLAINT?

Complaints must be filed in writing on City of Sarasota Human Relations Board forms.  You may pick up forms at the City of Sarasota’s Human Resources Dept., 111 S. Orange Ave., Rm. 204.  You may also call the City's HR Department at 941-951-3666.
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ADDITIONAL AGENCIES

Another agency may help you.  Please contact the appropriate agency on the list below for more information.

EMPLOYMENT

	EEOC	813-228-2310
	Equal Employment Opportunity Commission	800-669-4000 (Toll free)
	501 East Polk Street, Suite 1000	813-228-2003 (TTY for hearing impaired)
	Tampa, FL  33602	800-669-6820 (TTY toll free)

HOUSING

	HUD	813-228-2026
	Office of Housing and Urban Development	813-228-2115 (TTD for hearing impaired)
	Timberlake Federal Building
	500 E. Zack Street, Suite 402
	Tampa, FL  33602-2945
	HUD Housing Discrimination Hotline	800-669-9777 (Toll free English/Spanish)
	servicing the Sarasota area	800-927-9275 (Toll free TTI for hearing impaired)

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL?

	Sarasota Human Relations Board	941-951-3666
		941-951-3601 (TDD hearing impaired)
	FLA Commission on Human Relations	850-488-7082
	2009 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 100	Those with communication impairments, please call:
	Tallahassee, FL  32301	800-955-1339 (TDD ASCII Callers)
		800-955-8771 (TDD Baudot Callers)
		800-955-8770 (Voice Callers)

CITY OF SARASOTA
HUMAN RELATIONS BOARD
111 S. Orange Avenue
Sarasota, FL  34236
941-951-3666