PublicationsPublications
The Vermont Human Rights Commission has the following publications available in print or in PDF format. If you would like a print copy, please call or e-mail the HRC at 800-416-2010, ext. 25, or human.rights@state.vt.us to request a copy.
Annual Reports
Human Rights Commission FY 2012 Budget
Human Rights Commission FY 2013 Budget
The Human Rights Commission publishes a Fair Housing Newsletter twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall:
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 9, Number 1 (Spring 2012)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 8, Number 2 (Fall 2011)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 8, Number 1 (Spring 2011)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 7, Number 2 (Fall 2010)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 7, Number 1 (Spring 2010)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 6, Number 2 (Fall 2009)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 6, Number 1 (Spring 2009)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 5, Number 2 (Fall 2008)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 5, Number 1 (Spring 2008)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 4, Number 2 (Fall 2007)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 4, Number 1 (Spring 2007)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 3, Number 2 (Spring 2006)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 3, Number 1 (Fall 2005)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 2, Number 1 (Fall 2004)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 1, Number 2 (Spring 2004)
Fair Housing Newsletter Volume 1, Number 1 (Fall 2003)
2009 Legislative Study Committee Report on Harassment, Bullying, and Cyberbullying in Vermont Schools
The committee assessed the current state of efforts to address the destructive impact of harassment, bullying and cyberbullying; examined laws in other jurisdictions and carefully reviewed enactments to Vermont statutes to date; and proposed a limited revision of state law (Appendix 3) to provide clear authority to allow educators to address off-campus behaviors that negatively impact the educational opportunities of students who are the targets of harassment, bullying or cyberbullying.
Harassment, Bullying, and Cyberbullying of Students in Vermont Schools
Human Rights Commission Housing Impediments Report
In 2006, the Human Rights Commission and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs released a report called "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice." As stated in the executive summary, the report "examines the effect of Vermont's laws, regulations, and administrative policies, procedures and practices on the affordability, availability, and accessibility of housing in Vermont, and provides an assessment of how conditions, both private and public, affect fair housing choice in the state." Below you will find links to the executive summary and part IV. If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact us at 1-800-415-2010 or e-mail us at human.rights@state.vt.us.
Executive Summary (56 KB)
Part IV: Impediments and Remedies (124 KB)
Vermont Legal Aid Housing Discrimination Report
Between 2009 and 2011, the Housing Discrimination Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid conducted ninety-five paired rental visit tests, 300 paired linguistic telephone tests, and eighteen accessibility audits (measuring compliance with design and construction accessibility standards required under the Federal Fair Housing Act). Audit results indicate that housing providers generally disfavor African American renters, renters of foreign origin, renters with children, and renters with disabilities.
Testing results demonstrate preferential treatment toward white testers of U.S. origin without an apparent disability. The combined results of the rental visit and linguistic telephone audits reflect preferential treatment toward the white control testers in 38% of the race-based tests, 40% of the national origin tests, and 36% of the familial status tests. In 27% of rental visit audits conducted on the basis of disability, housing providers indicated preferential treatment toward the tester without an apparent disability, and in eighty-three percent of the eighteen accessibility tests conducted on newly -constructed multi-family housing units, testers found significant or minor noncompliance with FHA design and construction accessibility requirements.
Rental Discrimination Audit Report 2012 (1.2 MB)
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights State Advisory Committee reports:
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan federal agency established by Congress in 1957, reconstituted in 1983, and reauthorized in 1994. It is directed to investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices; study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice; appraise federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice; serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin; submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress; and issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws.
By law, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has established an advisory committee in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The committees are composed of state citizens who serve without compensation. The committees advise the Commission of civil rights issues in their states that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction. More specifically, they are authorized to advise the Commission on matters of their state’s concern in the preparation of Commission reports to the President and the Congress; receive reports, suggestions, and recommendations from individuals, public officials, and representatives of public and private organizations to committee inquiries; forward advice and recommendations to the Commission, as requested; and observe any open hearing or conference conducted by the Commission in their states.
1999 Report on Racial Harassment in Vermont Schools (520 KB)
2003 Supplemental Report on Racial Harassment in Vermont Schools (368 KB)
2009 Report on Racial Profiling in Vermont (2.7 MB)
Uncommon Alliance Report on Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops
In 2012, the Uncommon Alliance issued a report with an analysis about racial disparities in traffic stops in Chittendent County. The Burlington Police Department, South Burlington Police Department, Winooski Police Department, and the UVM Police Department all participated in the study.
Racial Dispaities Report 2012 (686 KB)
