Welcoming Community: Housing Equity

In both the past and present, access to housing, particularly avenues to home ownership and the generational wealth that comes from it, have been defined by unjust laws and policies across the United States. In many communities, being BIPOC meant you were systematically excluded from living in specific neighborhoods or qualifying to own a home due to discriminatory housing practices such as redlining, the effects of which are still present despite it being officially outlawed in 1968. Today, housing inequities are further compounded by historically high levels of income disparity, rising costs of homes and rent, and insufficient housing stock to meet demand. These issues, along with other socioeconomic factors, have contributed to a record number of people who are experiencing housing instability or homelessness.

Recognition of the past and continuing inequities in housing can help local governments, community members, and organizations advocate for just housing practices that provide access to affordable and inclusive housing for all. Exploring and having dialogue around the topic of housing equity is an important step to building an understanding of unjust housing systems on the road to addressing present inequities.

Further welcoming efforts around housing equity might include:  

• Elevating the voices of underrepresented or disadvantaged community members in decision–making regarding housing.
• Promoting education and broadening access to avenues of building credit to increase equitable access to homeownership. 
• Advocating for inclusive zoning practices and affordable housing policies that promote diverse, mixed-income neighborhoods and housing options to meet a variety of needs. 
• Supporting local housing assistance programs through donations or volunteer work to help individuals and families facing housing instability or homelessness.

Considering the relationship between inclusion and access to stable, affordable housing is essential to equity across the Northland. Visit the Resources to Explore section to learn more about some current initiatives and stories around housing equity in the Northland. 

“Housing is stability. Housing is dignity. Housing is absolutely necessary, critical infrastructure” – Raphael Warnock  

Minnesota Housing: Find Housing Help 

Habitat for Humanity: What is Housing Equity? 

Minnesota Homeownership Center: Helping Minnesotans Achieve Sustainable Homeownership 

American Institute for Economic Research: Zoning: The Nemesis of Housing Affordability  

University of Minnesota: Mapping Prejudice 

Urban Institute: The Ghosts of Housing Discrimination Reach Beyond Redlining

The Center for American Progress: The United States Must Deliver on Equitable Housing Outcomes for All 

Bipartisan Policy Center: Guest Blog: Health Equity and Housing Equity—Two Sides of the Same Coin 

NPR: A ‘Forgotten History’ Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America 

Safe Together: Empowering Peaceful Responses Held in Cook County on October 4th

On October 4, 2024, community members gathered at Cook County Higher Education for a day of sharing and learning about how to engage as active participants in supporting safety in their community.

As part of the Rural MN Community Safety project, community members in the Cook County area have been involved in better understanding concerns around both physical and psychological safety in their area. 85 community members took part in a community wide survey and several story circles were held in May to further understand conflict dynamics in the community.

Participants highlighted key community tensions, including economic inequality (57%) and political polarization (55%). As a result of these efforts, it was determined that an initial workshop around personal and community de-escalation and upstander intervention could provide valuable tools for community members to respond to challenges, especially with major elections looming.

Participants spent the day together learning personal and situational de-escalation tools such as window of tolerance, OODA Loop, CLARA, and upstander intervention.

Future workshops are being planned for the winter and spring of 2025. Recent coverage from the Public News Service on aspects of this project related to reducing political polarization can be found here.

Please contact Northspan Consultant and Welcoming Community Program Manager Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org with any questions or for more information.