Human Rights, Division of
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://dhr.ny.gov/
Mission
The New York State Division of Human Rights is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, remedying injustice, and promoting equal opportunity, access, and dignity.
The Division's vision is for a New York free of discrimination where everyone can fulfill their potential and participate fully in the life of the State.
Organization and Staffing
DHR operates from its main office in the Bronx and from seven regional offices in Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hempstead, Manhattan, Rochester and White Plains, and three satellite offices in Binghamton, Hauppauge, and Syracuse. The Office of Sexual Harassment Issues is based in Queens.
Major Programs
Investigations, Prosecutions and Hearings
DHR receives formally filed complaints of Human Rights Law violations. Alleged violations are investigated and, in cases where there is probable cause that unlawful discrimination occurred, DHR holds hearings before an Administrative Law Judge and resolves the complaint based on that hearing.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Work-Share Agreement
DHR investigates cases of employment discrimination for the EEOC pursuant to the Federal Work-Share Agreement.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Cooperative Agreement
DHR investigates and prosecutes cases of housing discrimination pursuant to the Federal Cooperative Agreement. Additionally, DHR conducts fair housing education and outreach activities.
Hate and Bias Prevention Unit
DHR conducts educational, public awareness, and outreach efforts to combat hate and bias incidents.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $39.9 million in appropriations for the Division, an $11 million increase from FY 2025 attributable to additional staffing and operational improvements. This represents an historic 52 percent increase in funding from FY 2025.
The FY 2026 Budget recommends a workforce of 282 FTEs for DHR, an increase of 108 from FY 2025 levels.
Major Executive Budget actions include:
- An $11 million investment to bolster the State’s ability to eliminate discrimination. The Executive Budget helps ensure complaints of unlawful discrimination are investigated. Legislation is also proposed to increase the efficiency of DHR's discrimination intake process.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
Briefing Book – Human Services
| Category | Available FY 2025 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
Change From FY 2025 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 28,888,000 | 39,888,000 | 11,000,000 | 20,599,000 |
| Total | 28,888,000 | 39,888,000 | 11,000,000 | 20,599,000 |
| Program | FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 137 | 245 | 108 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| Total | 174 | 282 | 108 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 22,870,000 | 33,870,000 | 11,000,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 6,018,000 | 6,018,000 | 0 |
| Total | 28,888,000 | 39,888,000 | 11,000,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 17,771,000 | 27,863,000 | 10,092,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 6,018,000 | 6,018,000 | 0 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | |||
| General Fund | 1,599,000 | 2,507,000 | 908,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | |||
| General Fund | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 0 |
| Total | 28,888,000 | 39,888,000 | 11,000,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 23,156,000 | 8,387,000 | 22,766,000 | 8,246,000 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | 1,719,000 | 623,000 | 1,483,000 | 537,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | 1,130,000 | 0 | 1,100,000 | 0 |
| Total | 26,005,000 | 9,010,000 | 25,349,000 | 8,783,000 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 244,000 | 88,000 | 146,000 | 53,000 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | 118,000 | 43,000 | 118,000 | 43,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | 0 | 0 | 30,000 | 0 |
| Total | 362,000 | 131,000 | 294,000 | 96,000 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 4,707,000 | 1,705,000 | 779,000 | 282,000 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | 788,000 | 285,000 | 94,000 | 34,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | 2,370,000 | 0 | 275,000 | 0 |
| Total | 7,865,000 | 1,990,000 | 1,148,000 | 316,000 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 243,000 | 88,000 | 3,547,000 | 1,285,000 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | 8,000 | 3,000 | 670,000 | 242,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | 50,000 | 0 | 2,000,000 | 0 |
| Total | 301,000 | 91,000 | 6,217,000 | 1,527,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 138,000 | 50,000 |
| FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE | 16,000 | 6,000 |
| HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION | 45,000 | 0 |
| Total | 199,000 | 56,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 6,018,000 | 0 | 2,749,000 | 0 |
| Total | 6,018,000 | 0 | 2,749,000 | 0 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 3,269,000 | 0 |
| Total | 3,269,000 | 0 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025