On November 6th habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County hosted a virtual panel on housing and racial equity.
Watch the recording of this event here-
Housing is Critical to Economic Recovery and Racial Equity Hosted by Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County Panel discussion from Friday, November 6, 2020 | Program starts at 1:00 The COVID-19 pandemic has created dire public impact and economic challenges for vulnerable communities of color across the country. People of color are experiencing higher COVID-19 infection and mortality rates and are disproportionately impacted by job loss, wage reductions, and business closures, all of which negatively impact access to safe and affordable housing. Without interventions, the crisis will undoubtedly worsen. How can we house more people and close racial disparities in housing?
Hear the leader of one of the leading nonprofit housing organizations as he highlights how Habitat is responding to COVID-19, its growing work in Seattle, and discusses with other civic leaders the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 on housing around the world. The group will also discuss the role of housing policies in causing our nation’s racial disparities and how housing is central to both health solutions and racial equity. Come ready to learn and inspired to act.
Thank you to our moderator:
TRACEY LEONG joined the KIRO 7 Morning News team in October 2019. Tracey began her journalism career in Humboldt County, Calif. where she worked as a multimedia reporter, producer, weather forecaster and anchor at KIEM TV. She stayed in Northern California for her next stop in Redding, Calif., as a multimedia reporter and evening anchor at KRCR TV. Tracey then moved across the country to WJZ TV in Baltimore, Md., to work as a general assignment reporter and morning anchor. Most recently, she worked in Los Angeles at FOX 11 KTTV as a general assignment reporter.
Thank you to our panelists:
JONATHAN T.M. RECKFORD began his journey as Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity International in 2005. Drawing upon his decades of experience ranging from Wall Street to a local church, Jonathan has led the global nonprofit’s tremendous growth. Through his management, Habitat has grown from serving 125,000 individuals a year to helping more than 7 million people last year alone to build strength, stability and independence through shelter. Jonathan serves on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, is the chair of Leadership 18 and is a member of the Freddie Mac Housing Advisory Council. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Urban Steering Committee for the World Economic Forum.
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL, elected in 2016, is now serving her second term in Congress representing Washington’s 7th District. Jayapal is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and helped lead a coalition of progressive lawmakers and organizations to introduce the Housing is a Human Right Act of 2020. The legislation would authorize more than $300 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness. Representative Jayapal was also an advocate for Homes for All Act of 2019.
LINDA TAYLOR joined the Urban League in 1998 as a Housing Counselor, responsible for providing pre-purchase counseling services. She now directs the League’s Housing Department which includes a team of housing specialists who coordinate counseling in the areas of faithbased financial education, mortgage default (which includes modifications, budget development, credit enhancement, pre-purchase education, rental assistance, transitional housing, reverse mortgage and expungement of criminal records.