Equity in Action

Our Commitment to Equity in Action

The Housing Collective is committed to actively addressing systemic racism within affordable housing and homeless response systems and championing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) both internally and through our core initiatives. This includes but is not limited to: 

• developing authentic partnerships that integrate people with Lived Experiences (PWLE) in decision-making, planning, and evaluation processes throughout the Housing Collective and its collective impact initiatives.
• affirming our commitment to DEIB by implementing equity-driven practices in our internal operations and collective impact work.

Why Equity?

An organization like The Housing Collective that is focused on ending homelessness and keeping housing affordable must prioritize equity. It is not just the right thing to do, it is essential in order to fulfill our organization's core mission. “Equity” refers to fairness and justice and is different from “equality.” Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and we must adjust that imbalance.

Addressing Systemic Inequities and Disproportionate Impact

Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by homelessness and high housing costs due to a history of systemic, racist, and unjust practices by the public and private sectors. This is not an opinion or a position–it is a concrete reality based on historical facts. 

Federal laws and programs like the Homestead Act (1862), Social Security (1935) and the G.I. Bill (1944) provided land, capital, and job opportunities to white Americans while denying them to Black Americans. The practice of redlining denied Black Americans the same mortgage loans available to white Americans. Urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 1960s displaced hundreds of thousands of families–more than 50% of whom were Black. Even today, Black and Latino households are twice as likely to get low home appraisals, and the practice of racial steering persists.

These practices contributed to severe racial disparities. Today, White Americans hold more than 90% of the country’s wealth while Black Americans hold less than 3%; White American homeownership is 72% while Black American homeownership is 41%; and Black Americans are five times more likely to experience homelessness than white Americans. 

While racial equity is a primary concern, we also recognize that inequity cuts across racial lines, and millions of Americans face a “stacked deck” regardless of their ethnicity or background. Wealth inequality in the U.S. is higher than in almost any developed country, and has reached levels not seen since the Gilded Age. Meanwhile, 653,104 people experienced homelessness in the U.S. in 2023, a record-high and a 12% increase over 2022, and as many one in three Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Prioritizing equity is a commitment to leveling the playing field for all, and ensuring that a safe, affordable home is available to everyone.  

Building Trust and Collaboration

As a result of historical and ongoing injustice, there is often distrust between communities of color and  systems and institutions. By prioritizing racial equity and committing to addressing injustice, we can begin to build more trust between the Housing Collective, our partners, and the communities we serve. This trust is essential for effective partnerships,engagement, and collaboration as we strive to end homelessness and expand housing opportunity. Trust is also essential if the Housing Collective is to attract and retain a dynamic and diverse staff and build an open, accepting, and transparent organizational culture–all necessary if we are to nurture and sustain a truly dynamic and impactful organization. In order to nurture and build this trust, Housing Collective staff are encouraged and trained to develop the interpersonal skills required to facilitate racial equity internally  and with external partners.

Maximizing Impact

By applying an equity lens to our work we can more easily identify whether homeless and housing resources are being allocated fairly. By prioritizing racial equity, we can ensure resources are allocated effectively to communities with the greatest need, leading to more significant reductions in homelessness and housing insecurity overall. This targeted approach maximizes the impact of our efforts  and addresses the root causes of housing insecurity within these communities, which, again, is directly related to historical and ongoing injustice. 

Creating Inclusive Solutions

Prioritizing equity will lead to more inclusive and innovative solutions that consider the unique needs and experiences of all communities. By engaging with communities and individuals with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity in the design and implementation of housing initiatives, the Housing Collective can create solutions that address the root causes of homelessness and housing insecurity and speak directly to the needs of these communities.

Examples of Equity in Action

Education & Research

• Annual Opening Doors Systems Change Assessment: In 2024, the Housing Innovation Lab published a study assessing the working conditions of frontline staff in the emergency homelessness response system in Fairfield County, and whether or not our partner network was achieving equity throughout the system. The report recommended increasing wages for staff, and ensuring that people with lived experience are shaping decision making. 
• The Practice of Democracy: In 2023, the Housing Collective produced this interactive educational experience that examined how justice, equality and power appear in our built environment–our cities and neighborhoods. This experience took place at community colleges in three Connecticut cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, and Norwalk, illuminating a collection of local stories and exploring how each of us experiences the values rooted in democratic principles and ideologies.

People & Culture Initiatives 

• Centered equity as one of four core directives in our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan
• Hired a People & Culture lead and incorporated this role into our Senior Leadership team
• Established annual staff DEIB survey and action planning
• Embedded housing equity education into our onboarding process
• Increased the presence of PWLE at decision-making tables