
Filing a Complaint of Unlawful Discrimination
How to File a Complaint
If you believe you have experienced discrimination in the city of Urbana, you may file a complaint by contacting the Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE).
Scheduling an Appointment
To schedule an appointment, call 217-384-2455, email OHRE [at] UrbanaIL.gov (OHRE[at]UrbanaIL[dot]gov), or visit the office at 400 South Vine Street. Persons with disabilities who need special accommodations or services should contact the City of Urbana’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator at 217-384-2455 or TDY at 217-384-2447.
An Office of Human Rights and Equity staff member will interview you during the intake process. If the Human Rights Ordinance covers the alleged situation, staff will draft a formal complaint for your signature. The signature must be notarized.
OHRE staff will not suggest reasons to file a formal complaint, but they will discuss various types of discrimination and explain the procedures for filing a formal complaint. OHRE staff may also provide referrals to other agencies as appropriate.
You do not need an attorney to file a formal complaint.
There is no fee for filing a discrimination formal complaint.
Time Limits for Filing
To be considered, the Urbana Human Rights Ordinance requires that the complaint be filed within 90 days of the occurrence of a violation or 90 days after the discovery of a violation. A complaint filed more than one year after the occurrence of the violation will not be considered.
What to Bring to an Appointment
Please bring all relevant information supporting your complaint to expedite the interview process. Examples of this information include names, addresses, and phone numbers of the people or organizations you are charging, all documents relevant to the complaint, and dates of specific relevant events.
If you do not have all the information readily available, bring whatever information you have to your appointment. You may be asked to provide additional information at a follow-up appointment.
Important Considerations
Retaliation Prohibited
You cannot be harassed or retaliated against for filing a complaint or cooperating with a complaint investigation. Specifically, Chapter 12-104 of Urbana City Code states, "It shall be an unlawful practice for any person...to harass, intimidate or in any other way retaliate or discriminate against, or interfere with any individual because he/she has made a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article, whether on his/her own behalf or for another individual, or because he or she has told, objected to, or commented upon any policy, rule, action, or barrier to that which he or she in good faith believes violates this article."
Immigrant Status
The OHRE takes complaints regardless of a person’s immigration status and does not ask complainants or witnesses about their immigration status.
Language Interpretation
The OHRE has translation services available in multiple languages for people with limited English proficiency.