A Call to Action for Housing Equity and Systemic Change

On Feb. 19, the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) community room was filled beyond capacity for the Voices of Resilience: Embracing Change — Celebrating Black History and Leadership panel discussion. This event brought together distinguished community leaders to share their experiences, challenges and solutions in the ongoing fight for equity, justice and housing stability.

Throughout the evening, panelists addressed systemic barriers within their professional and personal lives, as well as within our housing system. Among them was our very own Sesany Fennie-Jones, CEO of Council for the Homeless (CFTH), whose powerful words underscored the urgency of reimagining our housing system. “Our U.S. housing system was built on policies, procedures, laws and regulations that do not work for diverse communities. Let’s reimagine and restructure the way people find housing in our nation.”

Her words align with CFTH’s mission to provide community leadership, compelling advocacy and practical solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County. At the core of this mission is the commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which Sesany passionately supports: “You can erase DEI initiatives, but when they are done right, they are ingrained in your daily work.”

The conversation also turned to hope and perseverance. “This work is very hard. I don’t always have the energy to be resilient. But the people who pour into me give me hope to fight another day,” Sesany said. She urged the audience to act: “Don’t give up. People who don’t understand DEI want us to give up. Be engaged at any level, big or small. We have to stand together!”

Other panelists echoed similar calls to action. Brondalyn Clark, Deputy Director of Share Vancouver, emphasized the power of education and staff empowerment in tackling housing disparities. Larry Nelson, Executive President of the NAACP-Vancouver, spoke about the importance of mental health and self-care among Black leaders, as well as the need for proactive collaboration among nonprofits.

Ursula Arlauskas, Program Officer at The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, stressed that true change comes from listening to those closest to the problem and dismantling systems that no longer serve the people. Tanisha Harris of Sen. Marie Cantwell’s office highlighted the need to elect officials who have the heart, the right mindset, empathy and productive solutions to make equitable decisions around housing, because they truly believe we are all created equally.

At Council for the Homeless, we are committed to this vision — one where everyone has a place to call home, and no one is excluded from the opportunities that a stable, equitable housing system provides. This event was a reminder that the fight for housing justice is a collective effort, requiring continuous engagement, advocacy and action.

What can you do today? 

Get engaged, call your legislators, support local housing initiatives, and stand with organizations such as CFTH and our community partners that are working toward lasting solutions. Change doesn’t happen by waiting — it happens when we show up.

Nneka D. Coxeff
Council for the Homeless 
Communications Manager