An audit conducted by the state of New York has revealed significant deficiencies in handling housing discrimination complaints by the state’s Division of Human Rights (DHR). According to the audit, numerous complaints went uninvestigated, largely due to “poor management” within the agency, where complaints were frequently lost or left unprocessed.
The audit highlights a troubling scenario where the DHR initially failed to account for 68 percent of sampled complaints. Furthermore, among the complaints retrieved, nearly half took more than 30 days to receive a response, and 69 percent waited over 100 days to reach a resolution. The state’s auditing body found that in 70 percent of cases closed after a DHR investigation, there was no evidence that mandatory procedures and regulations were adhered to.
The New York State Comptroller’s office, responsible for oversight and auditing of state agencies, indicated that these failures represented a breach of the agency’s own operating procedures. Specifically, Section 297(2)(b) mandates that the DHR must initiate an investigation within 30 days after receiving a complaint and notify the complainant of the investigation’s outcome within 100 days.
In response to these findings, the Comptroller’s Office made several recommendations aimed at rectifying the inefficiencies at the DHR. These include the establishment of “adequate internal controls,” crafting comprehensive written procedures, and reinforcing time and case management oversight. Moreover, it suggested the implementation of a robust processing system to ensure the orderly investigation of all complaints.
Denise Miranda, the Acting Commissioner of DHR, acknowledged the Comptroller’s audit, expressing appreciation for its insights and professional approach. Nonetheless, she defended the agency’s performance by pointing out that the audit covered the years from 2019 to 2024, which included the disruptive period brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DHR, an entity instituted to enforce the state’s human rights law, aims to provide every individual with equal opportunity to fully engage in the economic, cultural, and intellectual activities of the state.
The challenges highlighted in this audit emerge in the context of broader housing issues, as seen in various US states and Canadian provinces grappling with housing crises amidst growing costs and economic inequality.