Overview

An important part of building power for housing justice is advocating for policy change and implementation. This is often best achieved through alliance and coalition building. Coalitions are made up of cross-sector organizations that work not only in housing but also on related issues that affect people’s overall well-being—such as health, education, and the environment. These coalitions typically include groups organizing tenants and residents. Coalitions can also include other nonprofit organizations, labor groups, and policy advocacy organizations and may leverage those groups’ platforms to draw the attention of decisionmakers.  

Alliances are often formed around specific policy and legislative campaigns, and they focus on connecting mainstream housing groups (such as community development corporations). They also create infrastructure for research to support policy development and collective action. These groups advance housing justice by supporting policy and systems change by bringing a range of groups together to build power and advance racial equity through a collective effort.

Examples of This Strategy in Action

• Virginia formed the Campaign to Reduce Evictions (CARE) in 2018. CARE is a coalition of stakeholders across the research, legal, affordable housing, private landlord, and advocacy sectors focused on preventing evictions, enabling supportive services, increasing housing affordability, and providing legal aid. CARE came together to address the state’s housing problems after a Princeton Eviction Lab dataset revealed that five cities in Virginia were among the 10 highest evicting cities in the country. In partnership with the Eviction Lab, CARE has analyzed data and customized policy solutions. CARE members attribute the coalition as the catalyst for bringing together important stakeholders to achieve results. 

• On the national front, Opportunity Starts at Home is a cross-sector campaign focused on meeting the needs of renters with low incomes. The National Low Income Housing Coalition launched the campaign in collaboration with research and advocacy organizations working on health, housing, criminal justice, mental health, education, LGBTQ+ issues, and local government. The coalition brings awareness to pressing housing challenges and creates policy agendas outlining priorities and strategies for increasing housing stability for BIPOC low-income renters. To achieve its agenda goals, the organization advocates on the federal level for resources and relies on its coalition network of state and local stakeholders to help implement policies and distribute resources.

• It Takes Roots (ITR) is a cross-sectoral alliance that centers Indigenous sovereignty and works in the areas of racial justice, housing justice, and climate justice. ITR is a multiracial, multicultural, intergenerational alliance representing over 200 organizations and affiliates in the 50 states and is led by women, gender-nonconforming people, people of color, Black people, and Indigenous people. It represents a collaboration between grassroots social movements aiming to advance a Green New Deal and a regenerative economy to achieve housing justice for marginalized communities through organizing. 

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