FAQ Community Relations Division

Q. What services do you provide?

A. The Community Relations Division deals with all matters of inter-group conflict and neighborhood disputes within the City, and offers mediation, conciliation, counseling, and referral services for individuals and households in conflict. These services are for all people and are not limited to inter-group conflicts between different races, ethnicities, religions, genders, etc.

Q. Is there a charge for your services?

A. There is no charge for our services.

Q. Who can request your services?

A. Anyone living or working in the City of Philadelphia may request our services.

Q. Is there a time limit for reporting an incident or concern?

A. There is no time limit for reporting an incident or concern, but our clients are urged to contact us as soon as possible in order to avoid delays that could lead to an escalation of the tension or conflict.

Q. Must the person directly involved request your services?

A. Persons directly involved in the conflict may request our services, but others may intercede on their behalf. For example, a block captain, concerned neighbor, representative from a community group, legislative office, or another agency such as the Police Department may request our intervention.

Q. How do I request your services.

A. You may visit the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, which is located at The Curtis Center, 601 Walnut Street, Suite 300 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or call 215-686-4670. You may also send us an e-mail at faqpchr@phila.gov, a fax at 215-686-4684, or click on To File A Complaint via our website, www.phila.gov/humanrelations.

In addition, you may visit the agency's North Philadelphia Field Office, 601 W. Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19133, call 215-685-9761 or send a fax to 215-685-9768.

Q. Who determines if my case is jurisdictional?

A. An Intake Representative will take your statement in a confidential setting. You will have the opportunity to share whatever you believe is pertinent. The Intake Representative will work with you to determine if your case is appropriate for this agency. If it is not, you will be advised and provided with a referral to other agencies or services that might address your concerns. If the case appears to be under our jurisdiction, it will be tentatively accepted and referred to a supervisor for a final determination.

Q. What are some situations that would come under your jurisdiction?

A. The Community Relations Division assists in reducing tension or conflict among individuals, households, or groups having an  ongoing relationship with each other. This can include neighbors, businesses, religious institutions, civic or community groups, or others. Staff provides support to developing lasting means to allow persons to live and work together.

Q. What situations would not come under your jurisdiction?

A. - Persons in the same household/domestic violence situations

- Married or separated couples

- Victims of serious crimes or property damage

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- Strangers who have a single incident who are not likely to see one another again

- Disputants who are already in court or whose dispute is in arbitration or in front of an administrative body such as the Zoning Board, DA's Private Criminal Complaint, etc.

Q. What happens after my intake is processed?

A. The case is reviewed by an Intake Supervisor. If the case is accepted, it goes to the Community Relations Supervisor, who assigns it to the appropriate Community Relations Representative. That representative will contact you by letter or telephone to discuss the case and our services in more detail, so you can mutually determine how you wish to pursue this. If, after discussion, it is determined that your case is not jurisdictional, you will be advised and referred to another, more appropriate, agency or service.

 

A. How long will this take?

Q. While the processing time varies, depending on volume and nature of the intakes, you can expect to be contacted by someone from this agency within three weeks of the date of your intake. If you believe this is an urgent situation, please indicate so to the Intake Representative.

Q. What can I expect to happen after I am contacted by the assigned representative?

A. The assigned Community Relations Representative will:

1. Listen to your concerns and help you assess the nature of the dispute.

2. Explore approaches to conflict resolution appropriate to your situation with you. 

3. Make contact with the other party in an attempt to establish lines of communications between you so that you and the other party can begin to work together to resolve the dispute.

4. Assist to identify other individuals, resources, and/or services that might be applied to the resolution of this situation.

5. Act as a go-between until you and the other party come to a working resolution.
 

6. Offer formal mediation if the parties wish to negotiate a written agreement that describes your future relationship with one another. 

7. Remain available to help the parties deal with disagreements that may arise from the parties' ongoing efforts at resolution.