Report Civil Rights Complaint

Local law in the city of Kalamazoo extends civil rights protections beyond what is provided by state and federal law with respect to housing. In the city of Kalamazoo, you cannot be discriminated against for your source of income, status as a survivor of domestic violence, or prior arrest or conviction record. There are also protections against excessive rental application fees and blanket policies that exclude groups of people. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, please let us know. We will use discretion when responding to your complaint, but complaints become public information and may be discussed by the Civil Rights Board or subject to Freedom of Information Act Requests.

Online

Step 1.Gather Information

Before submitting a complaint make sure you have all of the relevant information. We will need to know what happened and when, as well as the person or organization that is the subject of the complaint. It also helps to know if you have referred this complaint to another organization like the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Step 2.Report Your Complaint Online

Complete the online Civil Rights Complaint form. Your complaint will be shared with city staff and members of Kalamazoo's Civil Rights Board. If your complaint falls out of the city of Kalamazoo's local ordinance, it will be referred to the appropriate authority for review. If this happens, we will let you know who your complaint is being referred to. 

Report a Civil Rights Complaint in English

Report a Civil Rights Complaint in Spanish

A member of our team will follow up with you within three business days to let you know your complaint has been received. Once your complaint is reviewed by the appropriate staff, you will be notified if it will be investigated.

Step 3.Investigation and Determination

Your complaint will be investigated by appropriate staff with relevant knowledge and experience. The results will be shared with the Civil Rights Board. If it is determined that the ordinance has been violated, the Board will make a recommendation to the City Manager on how it should be addressed. 

In Person

Step 1.Gather Information

Before submitting a complaint make sure you have all of the relevant information. We will need to know what happened and when, as well as the person or organization that is the subject of the complaint. It also helps to know if you have referred this complaint to another organization like the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Step 2.Submit a Complaint at City Hall 

Visit City Hall during business hours and submit the Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint form. Your complaint will be shared with city staff and members of Kalamazoo's Civil Rights Board. If your complaint falls out of Kalamazoo's local ordinance, it will be referred to the appropriate authority for review. A member of our team will follow up with you within three business days regarding your complaint.  

Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint(PDF, 143KB)
Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint in Spanish(PDF, 148KB)

Return completed forms by mail or in person to:

Kalamazoo City Hall
City Manager's Office
241 W South Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Step 3.Investigation and Determination

Your complaint will be investigated by appropriate staff with relevant knowledge and experience. The results will be shared with the Civil Rights Board. If it is determined that the ordinance has been violated, the Board will make a recommendation to the City Manager on how it should be addressed. 

Contact Us

Phone

311

Alternate Phone

(269) 337-8000

Location

241 W South Street
Kalamazoo
49007
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