The Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign released an updated fact sheet highlighting the need for safe, accessible, and affordable housing to ensure the well-being of women and LGBTQIA+ people and their families. Research shows that women are more likely to experience economic insecurity, and access to affordable housing can ensure housing stability and reduce the likelihood of homelessness following changes in income. The updated fact sheet identifies challenges that may be mitigated by access to affordable housing, including disproportionately high eviction rates for women of color, discrimination in the labor market experienced by women with disabilities, and housing discrimination that impacts women at high rates, especially women of color, survivors of domestic violence, households headed by women, and those who are pregnant and have families and children. The fact sheet was developed through collaboration with the National Women’s Law Center, an OSAH Steering Committee member and leading gender equity partner.
In total, the OSAH campaign has posted 16 multi-sector fact sheets to its website. Each fact sheet compiles landmark research to help policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public understand the deep connections between housing and other national priorities, from healthcare to education and economic growth. Advocates are encouraged to download these fact sheets to help connect with potential allies in other fields and make the case for cross-sector collaboration. To broaden the movement for housing justice, we must ensure allies in other sectors fully appreciate the extent to which housing influences their own priorities and goals.
See the full list of fact sheets here.