December 10, 2020
Our beloved nation finds itself at another historic crossroads in the long struggle for racial equality and liberation. Growing national movements to rectify the twin evils of mass incarceration and discriminatory barriers to employment and housing when people return home from prison have passed model public policies such as Ban the Box in employment and Fair Chance Housing. As our cities grow more and more expensive to live in and homelessness explodes, what are model public policy solutions that enable people with criminal records to access stable and affordable housing? As we work to create a more perfect union, how do we not replicate racial oppression in our public policymaking processes by honoring the voices and leadership of formerly incarcerated residents? What are the myths and stories that society tells us about people with criminal records and how has that prevented us from providing a basic human need and right to housing?