Westchester County Human Rights Commission

The Westchester County Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of 17 protected categories, including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age and disability.

• Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or perceived to be suffering from it cannot be discriminated against based on their actual or perceived disability.
• Further, the media is reporting instances where individuals with certain ethnicities and essential workers (including healthcare workers) have been denied access to housing due to the perception that they have coronavirus.
• Your landlord/board of directors cannot evict you, ask you to leave your apartment or offer you different access to building services because of fears and stigma around COVID-19, including discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, disability, or other protected class. 
• Additionally, if you are sick and need an accommodation in your home, you may request a reasonable accommodation from your landlord/board of directors. Similar to requesting an accommodation from your employer, your landlord/board has a duty to engage in an interactive dialogue with you, and must provide you with the accommodation if it is reasonable under the circumstances to do so. If it is not, your landlord/board of directors may be responsible for offering you an alternative accommodation that it will meet your needs.

The Commission enforces the County’s Fair Housing Law. If you believe you have been discriminated against, call the Commission at (914) 995-9500 or send an e-mail to .  The Commission does not ask an individual’s immigration status.

Stay on Evictions
Effective March 20, 2020, New York State announced a 90-day moratorium suspending evictions as long as the emergency declaration is in effect. During this time, sheriffs or other officers cannot enforce evictions and remove renters from their homes.

In October 2019, Westchester County enacted the Safe Time Leave Law (“STLL”) guaranteeing covered employees 40 hours of paid leave to attend or testify in a criminal or civil proceeding related to domestic violence or human trafficking, and/or to move to a safe location.

• Covered employees are entitled to take time off for these limited purposes for full-days or in increments.
• No accrual period is required.
• Covered employees are entitled to use safe time leave from the commencement of their employment. Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.

Individuals can file a complaint under the STLL with the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection. Individuals can file a complaint with the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection. You may also opt to send an e-mail to .

The Westchester County Human Rights Law protects against discrimination in the provision of services and access to places of public accommodations such as retail stores, restaurants, hotels, and transportation services.

Denying entry or access to goods or services based on a perception that a person’s national origin, race, religion or disability indicates possible exposure to the COVID-19 is illegal.

For example, a restaurant cannot refuse to serve a person because they appear to be Asian or Jewish, based on an assumption that Asians or Jewish people have a greater likelihood for exposure to the coronavirus. 

Individuals who have had their employment terminated can contact the New York State Department of Labor to make an application for unemployment insurance benefits. The NYS Department of Labor has issued Frequently Asked Questions on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Additional information can be found on the New York State Department of Labor.