A Community of People and Organizations Who Are Seeking Justice
Who is the Housing Justice Coalition?
The Washington State Housing Justice Coalition is a community of people and organizations who are seeking justice for our friends, families and neighbors impacted by the criminal legal system to ensure access to safe, stable housing by ending arbitrary rental discrimination in Washington state. We believe an important component to help end this discrimination is passage of statewide legislation. We are committed to supporting legislation that aligns with our collective values of humanity, racial equity, equitable access to housing, empowerment and inclusion, and meaningful change.
Our Grounding Statement
The work of the Washington State Housing Justice Coalition is an inclusive campaign that centers both racial equity and the voices of those directly impacted by the criminal legal system. The work of this coalition is not just about passing a single piece of legislation, but building a movement that ensures housing justice and increased access to housing for people with conviction records.
The history of racial inequity, in our state and in this nation, informs every aspect of our work. We are committed to advocating for anti-racist policies and legislation that result in meaningful change for people impacted by the criminal legal system and fighting against policies and legislation that are detrimental to successful reentry and public safety and that perpetuate racism. We achieve this by centering and uplifting directly impacted individuals and communities in our work. We take the time to slow down and listen to people with lived experience, rather than centering our work within a white supremacist power structure and work culture.
Our Values
Humanity
We believe that housing is a basic human need and a fundamental human right. Therefore, we believe that ALL people, indiscriminate of conviction or arrest record, must have equitable access to safe, secure, sanitary, and humanizing housing. As part of this value, we use humanizing language and have mutual respect.
Racial Equality
We center and learn from the racist history of housing discrimination, gentrification, redlining, predatory lending, etc. that cause perpetual harms to the black community and people of color, who have disproportionately been impacted by the criminal legal system. That is why we strongly advocate for anti-racist policies and legislation.
Equitable Access to Housing
We believe in equitable access to safe, secure, sanitary and stable housing for everyone impacted by the criminal legal system. We will continue to work until everyone impacted by the criminal legal is safely housed.
Empowerment and Inclusion
We intentionally center the voices of directly impacted people and those with lived experience, and support them in leadership positions and key decision-making roles within the WHJC. This supports an antiracist culture.
Meaningful Change
We understand that meaningful and sustainable change does not happen overnight, and that incremental change and compromise are often a part of the legislative process. At the same time, we will not support legislation that reinforce disparities, racial stigmas, stereotypes, that conflicts with our core values, or that is unaccountable to the directly impacted.