Where we live determines where we work, go to school and seek medical care. It also determines where we buy our food, where we play and what air we breathe. Housing is critical to our long-term health, well-being and financial security. Housing justice recognizes that people of all genders, races, ethnicities, disabilities, ages and more have access to high quality, safe, affordable housing that meets their needs.
Why is housing justice needed? Well, for decades, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities and marginalized communities have been segregated and without access to equitable housing opportunities. Understanding inequities in housing and how government policies have affected where and how we live today is critical in determining how to move forward. Housing inequities have a rooted history in discriminatory policies and practices that have led to residential segregation, unequal access to basic amenities and limited opportunities for low-income and minority residents. The consequences of these inequities have been far-reaching and have had a significant impact on health, well-being and economic opportunities.
An example of a practice that has kept access to housing limited include:
- Redlining, the practice of denying a creditworthy applicant a loan for housing in a certain neighborhood even though the applicant may otherwise be eligible for the loan (Fair Housing Act).
Numerous government-funded initiatives created a thriving middle class that intentionally left communities of color behind and excluded communities of color from generational wealth.
Strategies that can be used to promote housing equity and access to opportunity include increasing the availability of affordable housing, expanding and investing in community development and promoting neighborhood revitalization.
