Raychel Farmer is the executive director of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Human Rights Commission and at Thursday’s Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club meeting she spotlighted how the organization promotes equality and what their plans are for the current fiscal year.
The commission was established by the Hopkinsville City Council in 1963, and Farmer says they focus on mediating possible discrimination complaints concerning employment, housing, public accommodations and financial transactions. Farmer says a majority of the complaints the commission receives are regarding employment and housing.
During the 2024-25 fiscal year the commission received 38 complaints, and 21 of those focused on employment while 15 of them focused on housing. In a complaint, Farmer says her office collects information and evidence from the reporter and forwards it to the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights if their complaint is valid.
For the current fiscal year, Farmer says they are focusing on hosting workshops and trainings, education opportunities, client services and researching policies. Farmer says the commission plans to reintroduce the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to the city council.
The act ensures landlords comply with building codes and abide by tenant rights. Tenants are also required to keep the living space well-maintained. In the past, Farmer says the act was not greatly received, but by providing more education about it, she says the reception could change.
The commission’s fiscal year began in July and so far, Farmer says as of October they have already received 19 complaints.
More information about the commission is available at Human Rights Commission Hopkinsville-Christian County on Facebook. Â