Cultivating an organization that reflects the clients we serve and the communities in which we work and live.
Housing Forward believes in a society where everyone can contribute and benefit. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) are at the core of the Housing Forward’s mission and are fundamental to its success in preventing housing instability and ending homelessness. Housing Forward is committed to creating a diverse and equitable environment and fostering a culture of inclusion where every community member feels supported and experiences a strong sense of belonging.
As an equal opportunity employer, Housing Forward will not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), pregnancy, parental status, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, height, weight, disability, or any other protected status.
Furthermore, our commitment to diversity goes well beyond adhering to anti-discrimination laws. Housing Forward acknowledges the disproportionate impact of homelessness on Black Lives as a result of our country’s 400 years of structural and systemic racism and commits to striving to be an anti-racist organization. This commitment includes working to eliminate the insidious practices of unconscious bias, systemic inequities, and active discrimination in housing, healthcare, employment, education and the justice system. Housing Forward believes the impact and result of trauma that these issues have on the physical and mental health of our clients, staff, and community is real, directly experienced and observed, and cannot be ignored.
Housing Forward is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, collaborative, and accessible workplace and service model. We seek to recruit, promote, and celebrate a workforce from diverse backgrounds, including those individuals with lived experience. We acknowledge that every person at Housing Forward offers unique strengths, skills, and competencies, and by respecting and valuing everyone, we work together to provide clients with the best possible services and programming necessary to end their housing instability. We know that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to creativity and diversity of thought which results in enhanced quality of services and better overall outcomes for the communities we serve.
As part of Housing Forward’s IDEA commitment, we strive to mitigate the effects of unconscious bias, by explicitly denouncing all forms of discrimination and actively working to destigmatize homelessness, housing instability, mental health, and substance abuse. We also commit to ensure these efforts are reflected in all aspects of our work, including training, resource-building, and by amplifying the voices, works, teachings, and experiences of Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color (BIPOC) thought leaders inside and outside of our agency in an ongoing process of becoming an anti-racist organization. Our commitment to IDEA is reflected in our policies and initiatives and, ultimately, in the work environment and engaged community we foster. As we grow, Housing Forward is committed to consistently leading with an open mind and critically evaluating our policies and processes as we seek continuous improvement.
*IDEA work does not receive federal funding*