Hispanic Liaison Office History and Background

According to 2005 Census estimates, the population of the City of Richmond is 193,777.  Latinos are a burgeoning part of the City’s population, increasing over 150% from 1,898 in 1990, to 5,074 in 2000, and to 7,040 in 2005.  Many Latino families moving to Richmond are new arrivals to the country and initially have limited English language skills.  The language barrier can be challenging for both the families and for the City of Richmond.  A few years ago, the City had limited ability to adequately serve the rapidly growing Latino community.  In response to the need for culturally appropriate services, a group of Latino residents presented the City of Richmond with a proposal describing the creation of a Hispanic Liaison Office.  The Hispanic Liaison Office (HLO) was subsequently established in 2004. The HLO was designed to ensure Latino residents understood how to access services, allowing newcomers to become productive and responsible members of the Richmond community. 

In April of 2006, the HLO moved to the City of Richmond’s Southside Community Services Center. The new location offers additional space and renovated furnishings.  The Hispanic Liaison Office transitioned to the Human Services portfolio of the City of Richmond, under the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services.  The move was strategic on various levels, including greater visibility within City structure, a higher profile by the inclusion within the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services, and more support for the expansion of the HLO initiatives – all allowing for closer collaboration with City Departments.  Additionally, the HLO underwent total integration into Mayor L. Douglas Wilder’s Vision for 2020, which involves a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of life for Richmond citizens by the year 2020.  The  Mayor’s 2020 Vision revolves around several key areas, including child and adolescent health, school success, at-risk male initiatives, and early childhood development.  This is an exciting time for the City of Richmond, and it is abundantly clear that the Hispanic Liaison Office is an integral component to the City’s core operation.