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Committee backs supplemental to restore Spanish‑speaking fair‑housing investigator at Human Rights Commission
Summary
Supervisors supported forwarding a $79,015 supplemental to restore a bilingual fair‑housing investigator position at the Human Rights Commission, citing rising need among monolingual Spanish speakers and service delays; committee asked staff to seek non‑general‑fund sources before final Board action.
The Budget & Finance Committee voted to forward a supplemental appropriation to restore a bilingual fair‑housing investigator at the Human Rights Commission (HRC), with supervisors asking staff to explore alternative funding sources before the final Board vote.
Supervisor Fiona Ma, joined by colleagues, urged the committee to approve $79,015 to fund a fair‑housing investigator to serve monolingual Spanish‑speaking complainants. "One third of the people that come to the Human Rights Commission are Spanish speaking," said a community speaker supporting the request. HRC Director Virginia Harmon told the committee HRC handled 970 fair‑housing complaints last year and that the vacancy in this position had reduced the commission’s ability to serve Spanish‑speaking complainants.
Budget staff and the mayor’s office noted the committee could consider work‑order revenues or other non‑general‑fund sources; the Mayor’s budget office committed to meet with HRC staff to review potential reallocations. In the meantime the committee approved forwarding the supplemental as amended and asked HRC to notify supervisors when the position is filled.
Ending
The full Board will take up the supplemental; HRC expects civil‑service procedures to take six weeks to two months to fill the posted position once funding is approved.
Quote
"Last year, the Human Rights Commission handled 970 fair housing complaints. And this year, we will likely handle fewer due to the vacancy of this position," HRC Director Virginia Harmon said.
