Far West Helping Foundation Corp

1. Policy Statement

Far West Helping Foundation Corp (FWHFC) provides equal opportunity in all programs, employment, volunteer service, partnerships, outreach, and community services.

No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any FWHFC program or activity based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, income status, family status, language, or any other status protected by law.

2. Scope of Coverage

This policy applies to all individuals and entities involved with FWHFC operations, including employees, board members, interns, volunteers, clients, program participants, vendors, contractors, subrecipients, and partner agencies.

• Housing counseling and housing stability programs
• Food bank and nutrition services
• Disaster readiness, response, and recovery programs
• Victim assistance and crisis response programs
• Youth mentoring, education, and development programs
• Transportation, outreach, community development, and family support services

3. Legal Authority

FWHFC maintains this policy in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, grant requirements, and equal opportunity standards.

• Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975
• Fair Housing Act
• Executive Order 13166 regarding Limited English Proficiency
• Florida Civil Rights Act
• EEOC, HUD, DOJ, and applicable funding agency civil rights guidance

4. Prohibited Conduct

FWHFC strictly prohibits discrimination, harassment, retaliation, intimidation, exclusion, unequal treatment, or denial of reasonable accommodation.

Examples of prohibited conduct include:

• Denying services, benefits, employment, participation, or referrals based on protected status
• Making hiring, promotion, training, discipline, or service decisions on a discriminatory basis
• Creating a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment
• Unwanted jokes, slurs, threats, insults, offensive images, or sexual harassment
• Retaliating against anyone who reports discrimination or participates in an investigation
• Failing to provide reasonable accommodations or meaningful language access when required

5. Complaint Procedure

Any employee, volunteer, client, applicant, partner, or community member who believes they experienced discrimination, harassment, or retaliation may file a complaint with FWHFC.

• Complaints may be verbal or written.
• Complaints should be filed as soon as possible, preferably within 180 days of the incident.
• FWHFC will acknowledge, review, and investigate complaints promptly and fairly.
• Corrective action will be taken when a violation is confirmed.
• Confidentiality will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Internal Contact:
Civil Rights / EEO Officer
Far West Helping Foundation Corp
P.O. Box 695085, Miami, FL 33269-2085
info@fwhfc.org | fwhfcadmin@fwhfc.org

6. External Complaint Options

Individuals may also file complaints with external agencies when applicable, including:

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
• U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Florida Commission on Human Relations
• Other applicable federal, state, county, or city civil rights offices

7. Responsibilities

Every person connected to FWHFC shares responsibility for maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and discrimination-free environment.

• Executive Director: Oversees implementation and compliance.
• Board of Directors: Provides oversight and policy approval.
• EEO Officer: Receives complaints, maintains records, coordinates training, and supports investigations.
• Supervisors and Program Managers: Enforce this policy and respond promptly to concerns.
• Employees and Volunteers: Treat all people with dignity and report concerns promptly.
• Vendors and Partners: Must comply with this policy when working with or on behalf of FWHFC.

8. Training and Communication

FWHFC provides policy communication and training to support compliance, awareness, and prevention.

• Annual civil rights and non-discrimination training for staff, volunteers, and leadership
• New employee and volunteer orientation
• Public notice of equal opportunity requirements
• Accessible communication for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency
• Training records and acknowledgments maintained for compliance review

9. Policy Review and Updates

This policy will be reviewed at least annually by FWHFC leadership and the Board of Directors to ensure continued alignment with law, grant requirements, and community needs.

• Complaint records and resolutions may be reviewed for compliance improvement.
• Training completion and accessibility practices may be reviewed annually.
• Policy updates will be distributed to staff, volunteers, partners, and posted publicly as needed.
• Official policy versions will be retained for audit and grant compliance purposes.

10. Adoption and Approval

This Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy affirms FWHFC’s commitment to fairness, equity, accessibility, civil rights compliance, and respectful service delivery.

Approved By: Clebert Merat, Executive Director

Board Chairperson: ___________________________

Board Approval Date: ___________________________

Effective Date: ___________________________

Review Cycle: Annual, or as required by law, grant, regulation, or organizational need.