Shelterforce: Prof. Gonyea & Colleagues Examine Patterns of Discrimination in Inclusionary Housing
Prof. Judith Gonyea from BU School of Social Work co-authored an op-ed exploring how inclusionary housing has impacted low-income and marginalized communities, with a focus on housing units in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The researchers found that while residents were satisfied with the housing they received, they faced more bias from housing management. The residents reported experiencing incidents of discrimination “from ‘a few times a year’ to ‘almost every day.’”
The study referenced in the op-ed was conducted with the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western University and was co-authored by Prof. Alexandra Curley, doctoral candidate Colette Ngana, and senior research associate Alyssa Nickell.
Excerpt from “Low-Income Residents of Inclusionary Housing Report Facing More Bias” by Alexandra Curley, Judith Gonyea, Colette Ngana, and Alyssa Nickell:
Inclusionary housing planning, design, and implementation practices should explicitly prioritize the goals of rectifying historical harm caused by discriminatory policies. Inclusionary housing offers an opportunity—and has an obligation—to address the historical and ongoing exclusion of certain groups, particularly Black families, from many neighborhoods. By acknowledging and actively working to repair these past injustices, inclusionary housing initiatives can contribute to the creation of more equitable and inclusive living spaces.”