Title VI Grievance Procedures Regarding a City of Boulder, Division of Housing Service, Program or Activity

This page describes the Title VI grievance procedures for any grievance filed with the City of Boulder, Division of Housing (the "DOH”) alleging the DOH failure to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”).

What is Title VI?

Title VI requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by the recipient of federal assistance. The DOH receives federal financial assistance. Any person who believes he/she or any specific class of persons to have been discriminated against in violation of Title VI may by themselves or by a representative file a formal grievance with the DOH as described below. Any such grievance must be in writing or provided verbally so that it can be put in writing and filed with the DOH Title VI Coordinator within sixty (60) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory act or decision. Individuals are not required by federal regulations to file a grievance with the DOH and may file a complaint directly with the appropriate federal or enforcement agency.

Please note that Title VI does not address gender, age, or disability discrimination. Other laws address gender, age and disability discrimination.

Frequently Asked Questions

The DOH Title VI Coordinator position is administrative in nature. The role of the Title VI Coordinator is to assist persons in understanding the DOH non-discrimination policies and procedures in relation to compliance with Title VI. The Title VI Coordinator is an impartial administrator who neither advocates for nor is an adversary to a person who wants to or has filed a Title VI complaint. The Title VI Coordinator’s responsibility is to ensure the proper administration of the Title VI complaint process.

If a person believes that he/she or specific class of persons has been discriminated against by the DOH or one of the DOH federal assistance sub-recipients on the basis race, color or national origin in violation of Title VI, such person has the right to file a grievance with the DOH Title VI Coordinator. The grievance should be documented in writing on a Title VI Grievance Form.

The Grievance Form should contain the name, address and telephone number of the Complainant and should contain as much information as possible concerning the alleged violation, including the location, date and description of the problem or incident. The Grievance Form must be completed and signed by the Complainant or his/her authorized representative. Upon request, the DOH will make available language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency or other assistance as necessary for filing a complaint.

Grievance Forms submitted to the DOH are open to inspection pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act, Colorado Revised Statutes §24-72-101, et. seq. It will likely be necessary to share some or all information, including the identity of the person filing the complaint, in order to resolve the complaint or as required by law. Investigation of a Title VI complaint will likely include discussion of the allegations of the grievance with those employees or sub-recipients or others who may have been involved with the alleged discriminatory act or decision.

The Grievance Form should be submitted to the DOH Title VI Coordinator as soon as possible, but no later than sixty (60) days after the alleged discriminatory act or decision.

Please file a completed Grievance Form at the following address:

Title VI Coordinator
Barb Baca, Housing Project Manager
City of Boulder, Housing and Human Services
P.O Box 791
Boulder, CO. 80306

Or file a complaint by email and send to bacab@bouldercolorado.gov.

If a person believes he/she has been discriminated against in violation of Title VI, such person also has the right to file a grievance with an external entity such as the federal agency providing federal assistance to the DOH related to the program, service or activity of concern or with the United States Department of Justice. For more information about filing a Title VI complaint, visit the U.S. Department of Justice website. Or a person who is interested in learning more about filing a complaint may reach the Department of Justice by telephone at 888-848-5306 for English and Spanish or 202-307-2678 (TDD).

Within 30 days of receiving the written complaint, the Title VI Coordinator will notify the Complainant of its receipt. The Title VI Coordinator will attempt to discuss the complaint with the Complainant and any DOH staff members or others who are concerned with the grievance and will attempt to resolve the grievance informally.

If the Title VI Coordinator determines further investigation is warranted, he/she shall mail to the Complainant a notice of continuing investigation (“NCI”) within fifteen (15) days of receiving the completed Grievance Form. If appropriate, the Title VI Coordinator may also arrange to meet with the Complainant to discuss the matter and possible resolution. If the matter is not resolved informally, the Title VI Coordinator shall respond with his/her final response, in writing, within forty-five (45) calendar days after the NCI is sent to the Complainant.

If the Title VI Coordinator’s final response does not satisfactorily resolve the matter, the Complainant or authorized representative may appeal the decision of the Title VI Coordinator, in writing, to the City Manager, City of Boulder, P.O. Box 791, Boulder, Colorado 80306. Complainant shall file his/her appeal, including a detailed description of its basis, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the Title VI Coordinator’s final response. Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the City Manager will designate a third party (not a DOH employee) to act as appeal officer (the “Appeal Officer”). The Appeal Officer shall attempt to meet with the Complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. The Appeal Officer will be an attorney or someone who is well-versed in Title VI law, rules and regulations. Within forty- five (45) days calendar days after the filing of the appeal, the Appeal Officer shall respond, with a final resolution of the complaint.

At that point, the Complainant may investigate his/her options for further action, including but not limited to those described in subsection 3 above.

The Title VI Coordinator, the City Manager or his/her designee and the Appeal Officer may extend the deadlines noted herein for cause and with notification to the complainant.

The DOH Title VI Coordinator will maintain the following materials for a period of three (3) years: (1) written complaints received by the Title VI Coordinator; (3) final response of the Title VI Coordinator; (3) final resolutions by the Appeals Officer.

Information including the City’s Title VI Notice and Title VI Grievance Form are available on the DOH website at and is available in hard copy at the DOH Office located 1300 Canyon Blvd. Boulder, CO. 80302. Upon request and at not cost, these documents will also be made available in alternative languages or formats by contacting the DOH Title VI Coordinator at bacab@bouldercolorado.gov or by calling 303-441-3231.