There are governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations which assist people in combating discrimination and with immigration concerns.
General Issues:
New York City Commission on Human Rights
(212) 306-5070
Complaint Hotline: (212) 306-7450 or call 311
Law Enforcement Line: (212) 306-7450
Handles: Discrimination in employment, housing, or bias-related harassment. Racial, Gender, National Origin, Creed, and Sexual Orientation.
New York State Division of Human Rights
(718) 741-8400
Complaint Hotline: 1-888-392-3644
Handles: Similar jurisdiction as New York City Commission on Human Rights (racial, gender, national origin, creed, sexual orientation) by employers, institutions that serve the public (public accommodations), in housing, creditors, and schools.
Civil Liberties:
New York Civil Liberties Union
(212) 607-3300
Handles: Governmental violations of people’s right to assemble, parade, speech, to be safe in their homes; possessions from unlawful government intrusions; police surveillance, harassment, and patterns of racial and invidious discrimination by government.
Immigration:
Immigration Hotline
(1-800)566-7636; (212) 419-3737
Citizens Advice Bureau-Immigration Program
(1-718) 731-3114
Handles: Adjustment of status, deportation/removal, family petitions, naturalization/citizenship, political asylum/refugee status, self-petitions.
Safe Horizons: Immigration Law Project
(1-718) 943-8632
Handles: Adjustment of status, deportation/removal, family petitions, naturalization/citizenship, political asylum/refugee status, self-petitions.
New York Immigration Coalition
(212) 627-2227
Employment Discrimination:
New York City Commission on Human Rights
(212) 306-7450; (212) 306-5070
New York State Division of Human Rights
(718)741-8400; (1-888) 392-3644
Other Employment-Related Referrals:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
(1-800) 669-4000
National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
(202) 898-2880 nelahq@nelahq.org
Schools Referrals:
Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.
(212) 947-9779
Handles: Discipline, suspensions, expulsions.
Legal Services for Children, Inc.
(212) 683-7999
Handles: Discipline, suspensions, expulsions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Region II Office: (646) 428-3906; National: 1-800-872-5327
New York State Department of Education
(1-518) 474-3852
Handles: Supervision over all the state’s public and non-public elementary and secondary schools, as well as public and “independent” (private) colleges and universities; administers state aid for local schools.
Police Matters/Misconduct Referrals:
CCRB: Civilian Complaint Review Board
311 or
(1-800) 341-2272
New York Civil Liberties Union-Police Practices Project
(212) 607-3300
Neighborhood Defenders Services of Harlem
(212) 876-5500
Housing Referrals:
New York City Commission on Human Rights
(212) 306-5070; (212) 306-7450
Handles: Discrimination in housing rental, etc.
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Call 311
Handles: General complaints relating to housing maintenance conditions, e.g. heat, hot water, enforcement of housing codes.
Tenants Rights Organizations:
Metropolitan Council on Housing
(212) 979-0611
MFY Legal Services
(212) 417-3700 (East Side Manhattan)
infor@mfy.org
Legal Services (Assistance with housing court)
(646) 442-3600; infor@LegalServicesNYC.org