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5 PRESENTATIONS FROM STAFF OF HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA Danny Addison, Assistant Director of the North Carolina Human Relations Commission, stated that his organization performs on the state level duties similar to those of the local Commissions. They also work closely with the local Commissions to help establish and enforce local Civil Rights Ordinances. The State Commission strongly urges passage of these Ordinances at the local level. Although the Fair Housing Act is enforced by the State, if a citizen can call a local office they will much more likely seek assistance. Investigations are more thorough at the local level. It is much more likely that complaints will be resolved through the face-to-face negotiations held at the local level. If enforcement is deemed to be necessary, there is less expense and time involved when a county Human Relations Commission is involved. Philosophically it is important for the community to make its own statement in support of civil rights by passing a local law. Most of the civil rights Ordinances are very workable. The community is not sacrificing anything by passage of the Ordinance. Extensive training is made available by the State and Federal government. Bill Jessup, Executive Director of the New Hanover Human Relations Commission, stated that in 1979 the City Council adopted New Hanover County's ordinance. The feeling in the community is that this has been good for the employment claimant. The main emphasis needs to be on the service that the Commission can offer the community. The primary benefit to the community is not the enforcement at the local level although that is an important component. The real local benefit is the education and support that the Commission offers. Often employers call requesting help in making sure that they are not inadvertently breaking the law. Some examples of areas in which the New Hanover Commission has been able to help employers is in choosing employment applications and in wording housing advertisements so that they comply with the Fair Employment and Housing Amendments. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR COMMENT AND QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS Jean Bolduc, past Chair of the Human Relations Commission, spoke in favor of the proposed Ordinance. She indicated that the Commission has not solicited and tracked complaints because they felt it would be an empty gesture without an Ordinance in place. The Public Hearings which were held in 1988 clearly established the fact that many Orange County citizens face daily discrimination. Ann Johnson, a member of the Orange Commission for Women, spoke in support of this Ordinance. She addressed the issue of discrimination against older adults. As a professional in the field of aging for the past 26 years and as a volunteer on a national committee on employment for older adults she reported on an increasing feeling of hopelessness within that population. Older Americans often feel that there is not a present or a future. North Carolina has a higher poverty rate for the elderly than the nation at large. Twenty-eight (28~) of our older populations live alone