St. Cloud Human Rights Office Expanding Services

ST. CLOUD - An office that investigates complaints of discrimination is expanding in St. Cloud.

Governor Dayton and the Legislature approved $180,000 earlier this year to staff the St. Cloud Department of Human Rights Office full-time. State Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey says the office will primarily look into employment disputes.

"This will allow individuals who feel they've been discriminated an opportunity to walk in, meet with an enforcement officer and to have their claim filed so the department can investigate the matter."

The Department will be posting an enforcement officer position for the office in the near future. They are also hiring a couple student interns. Lindsey says they've wanted to staff the St. Cloud Office full-time for several years.

"The last two legislative sessions actually, the department has asked the legislature for funding."

Dayton wanted more funding for the Department is his 2016 supplemental budget in an effort to eliminate racial and economic disparities.

Lindsey anticipates there being walk-in hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. once an enforcement officer is hired. The office will continue to be open every other Wednesday until then.

There's been discussion on moving the office out of city hall to another location in St. Cloud. However, Lindsey says that's an ongoing conversation and no decision has been made.

The Department of Human Rights is hosting a community meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 18th at St. Cloud State University to discuss the future work of the office.