Antiracism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment

IGH’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mission

Structural and systemic racism can look different in different parts of the world, but we see an undeniable global throughline between racism and homelessness. Homelessness disproportionately affects people of the global majority and other groups who have been historically marginalized. Such communities might be represented differently across regions but most commonly include Indigenous/Native and Aboriginal people, Black people, and people of color; women; people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. The systems and structures that are currently in place throughout most of the world are exclusive and create barriers that keep people from accessing the universal human right to adequate housing.In addition, experiential knowledge — knowledge derived from personal experience — of what works and what doesn’t work in a system is rarely valued or used in governmental decision-making due to power dynamics and inequitable knowledge exchange practices.

The Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) understands and acknowledges that systemic and structural racism are a root cause of homelessness globally. We are committed to actively working to counter racism and inequities in the homelessness sector and to continuous learning, discussion, and action on the intersection between homelessness and racism.

IGH aims to drive an equitable and inclusive movement to end global homelessness through a collective impact approach — working in equitable partnership with people with lived experience/expertise, communities who are most affected by homelessness, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and advocates.

Read our full DEI Committment Statement here.

For questions, comments, and/or feedback, write us at info@ighomelessness.org