Human Rights Commission pauses recruitment and retools role after HUD fair-housing contract pause
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Summary
City staff reported that HUD will not renew Tacoma's fair-housing investigation contract; the Human Rights Commission has paused recruitment, held a retreat to reimagine its purpose, and plans to resume recruitment in the second quarter of 2025.
Erin Watlington of Neighborhood and Community Services briefed the Community Vitality and Safety Committee on Feb. 13 about recent Human Rights Commission activity, including a pause in recruitment and an October 2024 retreat to reframe the commission's purpose.
Watlington said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified the city it would not renew the city's contract to complete fair-housing investigations; that change ended referrals to the city in September 2024. Staff said the city intends to reapply for HUD certification at a later date and that the commission used the retreat to reimagine its role while the city restructures some civil-rights and fair-housing functions.
The presentation noted six current vacancies on the commission and said commissioners voted to freeze recruitment in October while they revised guiding documents and clarified goals. The commission's stated 2025 goals include increasing member awareness of city policies and services, updating guiding documents, boosting community presence, and advising on programs that protect residents' rights.
Committee members remarked on the commission's history and civic contributions, including past policy work that influenced city practice. Staff said recruitment is expected to restart in the second quarter of 2025 and that commissioners remain active on community events and mediation work in the interim.
Ending: Committee members encouraged clearer pathways for the Human Rights Commission to advise council and recommended staff support for the commission's code review and future work plan.