Department Of Human Rights Illinois

The Department of Human Rights Illinois (DHIR) is a state government entity headquartered in Chicago that serves as a critical enforcement mechanism for civil rights protections across Illinois. Registered in SAM.gov since March 2004, the Department operates as a designated Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA) and administers comprehensive programs addressing employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and hate crimes. Through its federal contract and grant awards, DHIR plays an essential role in advancing the federal government's civil rights enforcement objectives while supporting vulnerable populations within the state.

The Department of Human Rights Illinois has demonstrated significant capacity in federal contract performance through its work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In October 2022, DHIR was awarded a firm fixed-price definitive contract valued at $1,959,300.00 that extended through September 30, 2024, to serve as the FEPA for the EEOC's Chicago District. Under this contract, the Department processed and investigated employment discrimination complaints under various federal civil rights laws, supporting the EEOC's mission to eliminate employment discrimination and enforce federal anti-discrimination regulations at the state level. This contract carried no set-aside designation and represented a comprehensive partnership between the state agency and federal enforcement authorities to strengthen civil rights protections for Illinois residents.

The Department of Human Rights Illinois has received multiple federal grant awards supporting its fair housing enforcement activities and hate crime victim services through various federal programs and agencies. Since 2021, DHIR has received recurring funding through the Fair Housing Assistance Program (CFDA 14.401) administered by the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with awards in July 2021, October 2022, October 2023, and most recently October 2025 for $993,878.29. These cooperative agreements and formula grants have enabled the Department to investigate housing discrimination complaints, provide training, conduct technical assistance, and perform education and outreach related to fair housing laws. Additionally, in March 2023, the Department received a cooperative agreement from the Office for Victims of Crime to establish a statewide hate crime and bias incident helpline through the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, with activities extending through February 2026. This initiative involves developing community partnerships, designating victim support service organizations, delivering trauma-informed technical assistance to helpline operators, and creating proper intake and referral procedures, with intended beneficiaries including victims of hate crimes and bias incidents who may be reluctant to engage with law enforcement or lack access to support services in underserved areas.