Members

HPN is committed to advancing racial equity. We know that systemic inequity is real. It is central to our mission that we address inequity in whom we hire, how we engage with community, and with whom we partner. We strive to advance initiatives that promote more equitable access to resources for residents and neighborhoods served by HPN’s members, and we will accelerate our mission by advancing diversity, equity and inclusion among our industry peers and business partners.

HPN advances racial equity in a range of ways:

• Our Racial Equity Pledge, a commitment by member organizations to embrace racial equity through six foundational principles: diversity of staff, leadership and Boards; provision of diversity training to staff leadership and Boards; review of corporate practices and policies that have a disparate impact on individuals or communities of color; equity assessment of organizational spend; internal review of communications; and political advocacy.
• A standing Racial Equity Board Committee comprised of member leaders guiding HPN’s vision and implementation of racial equity efforts across the network.
• An emerging Racial Equity Community of Practice, a group of 200+ member staff from that meet 6 times a year to share best practices and new approaches to embedding equity at their organizations and in their work with communities across the country.
• A commitment to racial equity through HPN’s 2024-26 Strategic Framework that will guide our work for the next several years.

• America’s historic inequities require us to be proactive.
• The housing industry has played a central role in limiting access to housing and denying opportunity in America, and our sector has a special obligation to work to overcome decades of structural racism in U.S. housing policy.
• HPN members serve diverse communities, including cities and neighborhoods comprised of people of color. We cannot claim to serve our communities if we are not actively working to dismantle systemic oppression and discrimination.
• We must also support efforts – whether our own or those of community partners – to empower the voices of BIPOC residents and stakeholders to determine the outcomes for their own communities.
• It is the right thing to do and in line with our values and beliefs as an organization. It will lift up our business ethics, help us grow as a network, and better respond to those we serve.