Big Hartman. Hartman has been named executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission. Photo courtesy Vermont Human Rights CommissionThe Vermont Human Rights Commission has not been able to keep pace with a record number of discrimination complaints this year. It is pushing for nearly $900,000 in new state funding — which would nearly double its annual budget — to add staff and expand services to meet the growing demand.The commission has been “inundated” with new discrimination complaints this year, said Big Hartman, its executive director and general counsel, at a press conference on Monday, National Human Rights Day.“All too often, lately, we must make the impossible decision to decline new cases for investigation simply because we are beyond capacity,” Hartman said.The commission was created by statute in 1987 to advocate for “full civil and human rights” and “protect people from unlawful discrimination” in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations, according to its website. It’s tasked with investigating complaints, resolving disputes, advancing effective public policies and educating the public. Many of the complaints it receives are filed by some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, such as those facing housing insecurity, people with disabilities, people of color, the elderly and parents of queer, transgender and BIPOC students, Hartman said. The commission has registered a notable uptick in housing complaints, according to Hartman. “Vermont’s housing crisis is leaving many vulnerable and suffering, which we believe has contributed to a significant rise in housing discrimination cases, while we’re accepting and processing more cases than ever in HRC history,” Hartman said.READ MORE Since July 1, the commission has had 50 intake meetings, declined a total of 47 cases, and has more than 100 complaints waiting in line, according to data presented at the press conference. As of Dec. 1, it has 68 active investigations, is litigating 15 enforcement cases and has closed 31 cases in fiscal year 2025.Cases often take more than a year or two to resolve for the commission’s staff of seven, Hartman said. The commission’s staff includes four attorneys — one litigator and three investigators.On Monday, Hartman made the case that it needs to double in size and add seven new positions to adequately serve the state and vulnerable populations. That is expected to cost an additional $887,000.The new positions would include an intake specialist to handle 60 to 100 new cases per month, three new staff attorney investigators, a communications and outreach person, a paralegal, a part-time social worker and a part-time mediator.The commission has an annual budget of roughly $1 million, according to Hartman. Other than a new litigator position in 2023, no new positions or increases have been approved in decades, Hartman said.Several advocates attended the press conference to support the commission’s call for increased funding. “Underfunding the Human Rights Commission to the extent where people may have to wait two years to resolve those complaints is not supporting the vital work” of the office, said Michele Olvera, legal counsel for the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission.Reached Monday, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden Central, said he intends to support additional funding but also pointed to political headwinds. “I value the work of the VHRC very highly, and it’s certainly my intention to try to increase their funding this year,” he said in an email. “Whether the budgetary situation will allow that remains to be seen. We’ll know a good deal more after the Governor’s budget address.”Read the story on VTDigger here: Facing ‘more cases than ever,’ Vermont Human Rights Commission seeks more funding.