Equity and Inclusion

In metro Denver and across the country, people of color continue to experience homelessness and housing instability at disproportionate rates. The overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in the homeless population results from a centuries-long history of oppression, ongoing systemic racism, and inequitable public policy decisions in healthcare, criminal justice, education, housing, child welfare, and income. 

We understand the homeless services community is at various points of knowing, learning, and implementing more equitable and inclusive practices.  

 Solutions to consider: 

  • Systemic improvements will require partners at all levels to understand and address disparities using a racial equity lens 

  • Increasing engagement with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)-led community organizations 

  • Internally analyzing our organizations for inequities will help us identify key areas for improvement to meet our goals of housing people in a way that is not only safe and effective, but equitable, inclusive, and culturally appropriate. 

  • Partnering with lived experts of homelessness and housing instability  

Letter from MDHI

Dear Partners,

Solving homelessness is incredibly complex. As the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative works towards its mission of “Leading and advancing collaboration to end homelessness in the region,” this cannot be achieved without acknowledging and meaningfully addressing the systemically and structurally racist policies that have created the backdrop for homelessness as we know it. While the experiences of homelessness are vast and varied, there is one constant in our work – the disproportionate number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) experiencing homelessness. Solving homelessness must include addressing the multiple systems that working together have created the crises of poverty and homelessness we are grappling with today. Working to create an equitable homeless response system cannot be achieved without also addressing these inherent inequities.

Creating a more equitable, inclusive system starts internally within organizations. In 2020, MDHI hired its first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We completed a comprehensive racial equity assessment in the summer of 2021, and have worked from there to integrate DEI into all facets of our organization. This looks like DEI being part of all our internal AIMS and drivers, essentially how we measure success, and it being core to redesigning our processes and systems, including our Continuum of Care’s (CoC) assessment tool and coordinated entry process.

MDHI has invested heavily in our organizational DEI journey. These investments included our entire leadership team and staff cohorts undergoing empathy coaching with Syah B. Consulting, DEI trainings for staff and board with ESD Consulting, partnering with C4 Innovations to conduct a racial equity analysis of the Coordinated Entry System, and creating inclusive spaces for individuals with lived expertise to co-create changes in our homeless response. This work has challenged us individually, as a team, and as the lead agency of the CoC.

While we have begun this DEI journey, there is still an incredible amount of ongoing work needed to create lasting change. The path forward is not a linear one, nor is it simple. However, it is necessary. We look forward to the road ahead and helping create a more inclusive, equitable continuum of care.

Warm regards,
MDHI

Community Resources

In addition to these groups, MDHI hosts two Lived Experience Committees:

Learning
Resources

A starting point for learning

Race Forward - Glossary of DE&I Terms

Training

For a deeper dive, try working with one of these local consultants:

Land & Cultural Acknowledgement

A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment – Native Governance Center 

We honor and acknowledge that Colorado is located on the traditional territory and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute nations. More than 48 tribes and nations call Colorado home. We recognize that Indigenous peoples are the original stewards of this land.   

We acknowledge and celebrate the continued achievements of Black Americans and their transformational impact on American society.  

This country was founded on stolen land and built by stolen people. We invite everyone in this space to recognize their ancestors and the forces of history that brought you here, as well as the work you are engaged in to support collective liberation and the liberation of future generations.