The Office of Human Relations works to promote equal opportunity, diversity and the elimination of discrimination through education, enforcement, community partnerships and customer service, throughout the City and its neighborhoods through the following programs and initiatives:

Minority and Woman Business Enterprise Certification: The Minority/Woman Business Enterprise program is a certification program that permits minority and women owned businesses to participate in the City set-aside programs. 

Contract Compliance: The Contract Compliance Unit of the Office of Human Relations has the responsibility to monitor the efforts of contractors to comply with the federal, state and local Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity requirements and goals.  The intent of these requirements and goals is to enhance the inclusion of minorities and women contractors and/or tradesworkers on City of Hartford projects.

Fair Housing: It is the policy of the City of Hartford to provide equal opportunity to all its citizens in the sale, rental and lease of housing. Pursuant to Federal and State fair housing laws, it is illegal to discriminate against any person in the sale or rental of housing or in the terms, conditions, privileges or services of the sale or rental of housing because of race, color sex, national origin, religion, ancestry, familial status, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation or lawful source of income.

Living Wage: On October 12, 1999, the Court of Common Council passed the Living Wage Ordinance.  Its purpose is to provide service workers, who are employed for work performed in execution of service contracts and development projects, with a wage rate that allows employees to become self-supporting.

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In addition, the Office of Human Relations provides a number of important services to the public including staffing of several commissions.

Commission on Human Relations: The Commission on Human Relations acts to improve racial, and social, and economic justice for all Hartford residents.

Commission on Disability Issues: The Commission on Disability Issues acts to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities living in or visiting the City of Hartford.

Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women: The Permanent Commission on the Status of Hartford Women acts to assist the City in the elimination of gender-based discrimination and to assist in improving the status of Hartford Women. 

Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues: The Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues acts to assist in the elimination of bigotry, discrimination and prejudice  against lesbians, gays and bisexuals in the city. 

Civilian Police Review Board: The Civilian Police Review Board acts to review investigations of citizen complaints against police conduct and to make recommendations to the chief of police in connection therewith.