Opportunity Starts at Home

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Sabrina Johnson, Senior Housing Policy Advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Dr. Johnson discusses the work of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the history of the environmental justice movement, the intersection of environmental justice and housing justice, the impact of environmental racism on communities of color, the impact of climate change, and ways to take action though advancing policy solutions. Dr. Johnson takes a deep dive into our recently released issue brief entitled, “Housing Policy is Environmental Policy: The Complementary Aims of Fair Housing and Environmental Justice.” Read the article at: https://www.opportunityhome.org/resources/housing-policy-is-environmental-policy-the-complementary-aims-of-fair-housing-and-environmental-justice/

In this episode, we talk with Victoria Palacio, Deputy Director of State Strategy at the Legal Action Center. Mrs. Palacio discusses the work of the Legal Action Center, its participation in the OSAH campaign’s Roundtable, the latest findings from a survey conducted by the Black Harm Reduction Network, the impact of housing on harm reduction efforts and justice-involved populations, the importance of language in advocacy, and the future projects of the Legal Action Center. Mrs. Palacio also speaks about the work of the Legal Action Center’s “No Health=No Justice” campaign, a multi-state advocacy and organizing strategy that works to support de-carceration efforts to ensure that people are not criminalized for conditions related to their health. The campaign involves close partnerships with Legal Action Center’s local and state partners, including Alabama Justice Initiative, Black Futurists Group, Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, Just City Memphis/Decarcerate Memphis, Lifeline 2 Success, National Incarceration Association, Northeastern University School of Law/Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, RestoreHER, Restoring Rights and Opportunities Coalition of Illinois/Heartland Alliance, Safer Foundation, Southern Center for Human Rights, The Ordinary Peoples Society, Voices for a Second Chance, and Women on the Rise. Read the article at: https://www.opportunityhome.org/resources/housing-is-a-solution-why-housing-matters-to-harm-reductionists-and-criminal-legal-system-and-health-care-reform-advocates/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Justin Steil, a professor of Law and Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Steil joins us to discuss the origins of his interdisciplinary approach to housing policy, the historical context of the Fair Housing Act, decades of failed implementation related to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate, the progress made under the AFFH rule established during the Obama administration, and the rule's prospects for revival during the Biden administration. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Lance Freeman, the Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor of City and Regional Planning & Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Freeman joins us to discuss how growing up in New York City spurred his interest in housing policy, the historical context of segregated living patterns in US cities, how the government contributed to those patterns, the emergence of gentrification in urban development, and the specific policies that can better promote affordable housing and integration. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk to Thea Sebastian, Director of Policy at Civil Rights Corps, and Sam Washington, Policy Associate at Civil Rights Corps. Sebastian and Washington explore the deep connections between affordable housing and safety for individuals and families and discuss why Civil Rights Corps joined the OSAH campaign’s Roundtable and participated in the campaign’s recent sign-on letter supporting the campaign’s housing priorities. They also examine the ways safety, racial equity, and housing are connected and share additional resources for learning about housing and safety. Additional Resources: ARPA: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Community-Safety-and-ARP_Policy-Guide_CivRightsCorps.pdf IIJA: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3_21_CRC_Harnessing-Infrastructure-Grants-for-Community-Safety-Report.pdf Evidence Guide: https://civilrightscorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Getting-Smart-On-Safety.pdf Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Eva Rosen, an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, Dr. Philip Garboden, the HCRC Professor in Affordable Housing Economics, Policy, and Planning at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Dr. Jennifer Cossyleon, a Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager at Community Change Action. Dr. Rosen, Dr. Garboden, and Dr. Cossyleon join us to discuss a recent article published in the American Sociological Review (2021), "Racial Discrimination in Housing: How Landlords use Algorithms and Home Visits to Screen Tenants." The conversation explores their mixed methods approach to research, the different types of landlords in the housing rental market, inequitable screening practices, the importance of understanding intersectional discrimination, and what an equitable approach to matching landlords and tenants might look like. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

Leaders from the health, faith, and food security sectors join us for a discussion on advancing racial equity through their participation on the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. In the past two years, the campaign has formed a Racial Equity Working Group to advance racial equity within the campaign. In this episode, members of the Racial Equity Working Group explore how their organizations are advancing racial equity, the intersectional impact of correcting racial inequities in housing policy, the work of the racial equity working group and major reflections and takeaways. The discussion features Curtis Johnson, Vice President of Housing Strategy, Catholic Charities, Alexandra Ashbrook, Director of Root Causes and Specific Populations, Food Research and Action Center, and Charlotte Bruce, Research and Policy Analyst, Children’s HealthWatch. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode we talk with Dr. Alexander von Hoffman, an American urban planner and historian at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Joint Center for Housing Studies. Dr. von Hoffman joins us to discuss his recent book chapter "The Origins of the Fair Housing Act of 1968” in Furthering Fair Housing: Prospects for Racial Justice in America's Neighborhoods, a volume that explores the past, present and future of fair housing policies in the United States. The conversation explores the historical roots of segregation, the ways that federal policy exacerbated issues of fair housing, the grassroots and legislative history of the Fair Housing Act, and the challenges facing housing integration advocates today. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Lincoln Quillian, a Professor of Sociology and Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. Dr. Quillian joins us to discuss a recent article published in the journal Race and Social Problems (2020), "Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Housing and Mortgage Lending Markets: A Quantitative Review of Trends, 1976–2016." The conversation explores the importance of housing to equal opportunity, the methodological approach to analyzing housing and mortgage discrimination over time, how different types of discrimination have changed over time, and the implications of these findings for policymakers. Episode recorded in April 2022. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The episode explores the work of the campaign’s state-based affiliates in North Carolina and features Adam Sotak, community engagement director at NCChild. Throughout the episode, Mr. Sotak discusses their unqiue partnership with the North Carolina Housing Coalition, the opportunities and challenges of building multi-sector partnerships, best practices for organizations looking to build a multi-sector coalition, how NCChild is advancing racial equity, and how NCChild is leveraging multi-sector partnerships to advance more robust and equitable housing policies. "What we have tried to do with this opportunity is integrate the issue of safe and affordable housing for children and families into everything we do as a child advocacy organization because it is such a key part of children being able to thrive," said Mr. Sotak. We all know that affordable housing is an issue in any city or state across our country...so to us, it just makes sense to have this be a key part of the multi-issue way we are trying to make policy change in North Carolina."

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stefan Lallinger and Sam Adams about why education advocates must concern themselves with matters of housing policy. Dr. Lallinger is a Fellow at the Century Foundation and Director of the Bridges Collaborative, focused on issues of racial and socioeconomic integration, equity, school governance, and district-charter relationships. Sam Adams is the education programs manager at the Come to Believe Foundation and ongoing contributor to the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. "The way that we have set up where kids go to school in this country, which is based largely on where they live, has necessitated that educators take an interest in housing policy," said Dr. Lallinger. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The campaign continues its three-part webinar series entitled “Building Multi-Sector Partnerships to Advance Housing Policy,” with the second webinar on August 24. This webinar series explores the opportunities, challenges, and best practices of building multi-sector coalitions to advance policy, featuring speakers from leading national and state organizations from many fields of work. The second part of the webinar series, entitled “Best Practices to Building Multi-sector Partnerships on the State Level,” featured: Chantelle Wilkinson, National Campaign Manager, Opportunity Starts at Home Gina Wilt, Advocacy Director, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio Kendra Knighten, Policy Associate, Idaho Asset Building Network Tara Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition Sharon Barker, Vice President and COO, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey Through the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, leading national organizations from an array of sectors are pushing Congress to act on more robust and equitable housing policies. Even before the pandemic, America was in the grips of an affordable housing crisis, most severely impacting the most marginalized and lowest-income people. Advocates from health, education, racial equity, food security, environmental protection, economic mobility, domestic violence, social work, faith, and more are recognizing that affordable homes are inextricably linked to their own priorities and concerns. As Congress begins to discuss robust infrastructure and recovery packages, we have a historic opportunity to advance bold housing solutions. These solutions are more likely to come to fruition when multi-sector coalitions are leading the way, as opposed to housing advocates alone. Learn more about the webinar series by signing up for the campaign's newsletter: https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/lets-stand-together/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign hosted the first of a three-part webinar series, entitled “Building Multi-Sector Partnerships to Advance Housing Policy,” on May 18. The webinar featured leaders in the climate, health, and education sector discussing their participation in the campaign, the benefits and challenges of building cross-sector partnerships and engaging other advocates in their fields to advance affordable housing policy. Speakers Included: Nan Roman, president and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness Khalil Shahyd, senior policy advisor, Equity Environment and Just Communities, Natural Resources Defense Council Makeda Harris, senior policy analyst, National Education Association Dr. Janna Gewirtz O'Brien, MD, FAAP, University of Minnesota, American Academy of Pediatrics Chantelle Wilkinson, campaign manager, Opportunity Starts at Home Over the course of three parts, this webinar series will explore the opportunities, challenges, and best practices of building multi-sector coalitions to advance policy, featuring speakers from leading national and state organizations from many fields of work. Learn more about the webinar series by signing up for the campaign's newsletter: https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/lets-stand-together/ Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode explores a recent report published by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) featuring Rasheedah Phillips, managing attorney of housing policy at CLS. Throughout the episode, Ms. Phillips discusses the report’s key findings, equitable solutions beyond the pandemic, research methods that center people with lived experience, guidance for organizations seeking to strengthen racial justice work, and using language to better capture racial inequities. “When we look at the rate of evictions in Philadelphia and that those evicted most are Black people, we recognize that when speaking about housing instability and unaffordability we should frame these issues as race and gender issues,” says Ms. Phillips. “These issues connect back to redlining which still impacts Black communities today as we look at overall disinvestment and blight in these communities.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

The episode explores the work of the campaign’s state-based affiliates in Ohio and features Gina Wilt, advocacy director at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). Throughout the episode, Ms. Wilt discusses the housing crisis in Ohio, the opportunities and challenges of building multi-sector partnerships, best practices for organizations looking to build a multi-sector coalition, how COHHIO is advancing racial equity, and how COHHIO is leveraging multi-sector partnerships to advance more robust and equitable housing policies. “I cannot underscore enough the importance of education and outreach in congressional meetings,” says Ms. Wilt. “And without having the diversity in COHHIO’s coalition partners to fully participate, I really don’t think it would be as successful.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we discuss the work of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign’s Racial Equity Working Group with Peggy Bailey, Vice President of Housing Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Throughout the episode, Ms. Bailey discusses the history of racism in housing policy, the first steps when organizations embark upon racial equity work, her major reflections and takeaways, the intersectional impact of correcting racial inequities in housing policy, and the value of applying an anti-racist framework to housing justice. “There is a true commitment to race equity work and doing better in the housing space,” said Ms. Bailey. “Policies and practices have caused racial disparities, so intentionality and courage are needed to reverse and correct them.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, about the intersection of healthy early childhood development and housing stability. Dr. Jones-Taylor discusses the research around baby and toddler development, persistent racial disparities, effective best practices, the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19, and why ZERO TO THREE is pushing Congress to invest in housing stability. "Babies need a place to call home," said Dr. Jones-Taylor. "Safe, affordable housing is at the heart of healthy early development. I can’t think of anything that is more foundational to young children’s well-being. The experience of the pandemic has laid bare that our systems for supporting the health and well-being of families with young children are threadbare to practically non-existent. For us, it’s important that Congress hears from the baby perspective so we can make this connection for them." ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit that works to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses the intersections between racial equity and housing with Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness. Ms. Andere discusses the work of her organization, how racial inequities manifest in housing and homelessness, the history of housing discrimination, what it takes to achieve large-scale policy change, the common mistakes that organizations make in pursuing racial equity work, the importance of distinguishing between intent and impact, how the philanthropic community is increasingly committed to addressing structural and racial inequities, and why centering racial equity becomes even more important in crises such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "For us, racial equity is not just the absence of overt racial discrimination," said Ms. Andere. "It is also the presence of deliberate policies and practices that provide everyone with the support they need to improve their quality of lives." Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses the intersections between the growing coronavirus pandemic, housing instability, and homelessness with Dr. Barbara DiPietro, senior director of policy at National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Dr. DiPietro explains why those experiencing housing instability and homelessness are especially susceptible to the virus and what solutions should be implemented immediately to mitigate the harm. “Our housing crisis is a public health issue,” said Dr. DiPietro. “People experiencing homelessness should be a priority population in our emergency response to the coronavirus.” Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

This episode discusses how the housing affordability crisis impacts Latino households across the nation, featuring Agatha So, Senior Policy Analyst at UnidosUS. UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza, is the nation's largest Latino nonprofit advocacy and services organization and is a Steering Committee member of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign. Ms. So discusses recent findings from a UnidosUS report that interviewed 25 Latino renter households in New York City, Washington DC, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, Orlando, and Las Vegas. The overall findings demonstrate that the housing crisis is felt deeply by the Latino community. Ms. So also discusses the history of housing discrimination that shapes today's current landscape, as well as concrete policy actions that should be taken to solve the problem. "Action is urgently needed," states Ms. So. "The lack of affordable rental housing has a significant impact on a family's economic security, feelings of safety in their neighborhood, their housing options, and their prospects of saving for the future." Intro/Closing Song: Free Music Library, YouTube, “Clover 3” URL: www.youtube.com/audiolibrary