RACIAL & ETHNIC EQUALITY
According to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), people of color, African American, Latino, Indigenous and other people of color (POC), are the most vulnerable populations to experience homelessness in America.
And by far, the most striking disproportionality can be found among African Americans, who make up 40 percent of the homeless population despite representing only 13 percent of the general population.
The Mohawk Valley Continuum of Care (CoC) takes seriously its commitment to identify and address racial disparities within our homeless system, and encourages its partner organizations to embrace policies and practices that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of its organizational structure. And, we encourage organizations to include staff at the project level who understand, respect, and are prepared to work with diverse populations, and who are sensitive to, and accepting of the culture and values of people of color.
In response to a push by HUD to assess and address any racial disparities in the homeless system, and in recognition that our community – like others throughout the nation- hasn’t adequately understood racial disparities with regard to black, brown and indigenous POC accessing and maintaining residence in safe, quality, healthy and affordable housing; in July 2020 the Mohawk Valley Continuum of Care (CoC) entered into contract with a Cultural Competency/Racial Equity Consultant for the purpose of providing guidance to the MV CoC in its efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion.
The MV CoC Cultural Competency Committee has over 25 volunteer members who work together towards:
· bringing greater diversity, equality and inclusion into our organizational structures;
· improving hiring practices and policies to foster more inclusiveness of staff at the decision -making level;
· ensuring that project/frontline staff are educated to provide services that are sensitive to the race, culture, traditions and values of our client populations.
The committee meets via zoom on the 3rd Monday of each month. Individuals interested in participating in this cultural awareness and racial justice work are welcome to join our group. Requests should be made to CoC Chairman, Steve Darman at sdarman@mvhomeless.org, or to the CoC Director, Kelly Conroy Scott at kellys@mvhomeless.org.
Or, to the Cultural Competency/Racial Equity Consultant, Freddie Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton can be reached at fhamiltonma@gmail.com or by calling 917-623-8830.
Excerpts from the Report and Recommendations of the AD HOC Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness:
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Report Launch and Symposium California African American Museum - Monday, February 25, 2019
Black people are more likely than White people to experience homelessness in the United States, including in Los Angeles County. In 2017, Black people represented only 9% of the general population in Los Angeles County yet comprised 40% of the population experiencing homelessness. The impact of institutional and structural racism in education, criminal justice, housing, employment, health care, and access to opportunities cannot be denied: homelessness is a by-product of racism in America.
Meet Our Guest Contributor -
Freddie Hamilton:
Freddie Hamilton is a DEI consultant who is committed to social change. She provides leadership to help nonprofit organizations that are committed to transitioning their work environment from a homogeneous environment to one that supports diversity/equity and inclusion. Freddie has over thirty- years of experience as a not-for-profit generalist, and twelve years of experience as a DEI consultant. She brings to her work the lived -experiences of an African-American woman who has lived through much of America’s contemporary history and social movements, including the civil rights movement, the women’s movement and the LGBTQ movement for equality and equity, just to name a few. Clients include non-profits, local governments, Oneida County BOCES, and local colleges. Freddie has served as the Cultural Competency/racial equity leader for the MV Continuum of Care (CoC) for the past two years. Previously she was the founder and Executive Director of Child Development Support Corporation in Brooklyn New York. Presently she is the president elect of the Utica/Oneida County NAACP.
