Enforcement
The city’s Alternative Residential Mediation program offers tenants and landlords an alternative, as sanctioned by Forsyth County District Court, for settling disputes before they go to court.
The mediation program provides a simple mechanism to settle disputes that arise under the North Carolina Residential Agreement Act. Under an agreement with Chief Judge William Reingold of Forsyth County District Court, the court will refer landlord/tenant cases to Human Relations that it believes are ripe for mediation. Participation is voluntary, and the parties in the case retain the ability to go to court if mediation does not resolve the dispute. There is no cost.
The mediation program is loosely modeled after a similar program developed in Charlotte; however, in North Carolina, this is the first formal partnership between a city government and the district court for a landlord/tenant residential mediation program. The program was two and a half years in the making and is the result of a collaboration between Human Relations, Forsyth County District Court, the Legal Aid Society of Northwest North Carolina and the City Attorney.
For more information about the Alternative Residential Mediation program, call the Human Relations Department at 727-2429.
The Winston-Salem municipal code lists city codes and ordinances. This link will open in a new window. Search to find information related to the local fair housing act and the Human Relations Commission and Department.
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- fair housing
- human relations
The City of Winston-Salem is committed to improving the accessibility of services to persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), or who do not speak English as a primary language and has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166 of 2000, as a federal funding recipient, the City of Winston-Salem has an LEP Policy. The City of Winston-Salem has delegated authority for LEP compliance to the Human Relations Department.
Fast Answers to Questions Regarding LEP:
1. What does LEP mean?
LEP means Limited English Proficiency. This is terminology used by the federal government to describe individuals who do not speak English as a primary language and have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. Language assistance may be required with respect to a particular type of service, benefit, or encounter.
2. How does LEP apply to city departments?
LEP is imposed on federal agencies and recipients of federal financial assistance, which includes all of city government. Financial assistance includes, but is not limited to, grants, loans, or donations of federal property, the detail of federal personnel, the sale, lease, or permission to use federal property at little or no cost, and any other federal agreement, arrangement, or other contract which as one of its purposes the provision of assistance. Federal laws, such as Title VI, Section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166 of 2000, mandate that recipients of federal financial assistance comply.
3. What does the City’s LEP Policy cover?
The City’s LEP Policy includes LEP procedures, implementation, and the grievance process for any complaints from residents regarding a lack of Limited English Proficiency access to city services and/or programs.
4. What city departments are affected by the LEP Policy?
All city departments are directly or indirectly affected by the LEP Policy; however, any department that receives federal funding must be in compliance.
5. What types of LEP efforts is city government already undertaking?
To date, City efforts, under the “reasonable steps” standard, have meant providing meaningful access to Spanish-speaking LEP individuals. Such efforts include having multi-lingual translations for the city’s website, hiring multi-lingual employees, translating documents into Spanish, airing a Spanish city services-based television show, and offering pay incentives to employees who learn and/or use fluent Spanish during the normal course of their work duties. Other languages are also included under the LEP Policy if a resident is unable to reasonably access City services or benefits.
6. What else should I expect from city government?
Departments must take “reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access” for serving limited English individuals based on the frequency of contact, nature or importance of the program, activity or service provided, and resources available.
The Department accepts complaints from residents of the City of Winston-Salem who believe they have been unable to access city services or programs due to limited English proficiency.
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