How can you foster inclusivity in a homeless services organization?

2 Acknowledge your positionality

The second step to foster inclusivity is to acknowledge your positionality and how it affects your interactions and relationships with the people you serve and your colleagues. Positionality refers to the social and historical factors that shape your identity, worldview, and values, such as your race, gender, class, education, religion, and culture. These factors also influence your access to power and privilege, and how you perceive and respond to social issues. Therefore, you need to be aware of your biases and blind spots, and how they might create barriers or opportunities for communication and collaboration. You also need to be open to learning from others, and to challenge your own assumptions and perspectives.

3 Build trust and rapport

The third step to foster inclusivity is to build trust and rapport with the people you serve and your colleagues. Trust and rapport are essential for creating a safe and supportive environment, where people can express their needs, opinions, and emotions without fear of judgment or rejection. To build trust and rapport, you need to show genuine interest and empathy, and to communicate clearly and respectfully. You also need to be consistent and reliable, and to follow through on your commitments and promises. Moreover, you need to be humble and accountable, and to admit your mistakes and apologize when necessary.

4 Collaborate and co-create

The fourth step to foster inclusivity is to collaborate and co-create with the people you serve and your colleagues. Collaboration and co-creation are key for ensuring that your services and programs are relevant, responsive, and effective, and that they reflect the needs and preferences of the people you serve. To collaborate and co-create, you need to involve the people you serve and your colleagues in every stage of your work, from planning and design, to implementation and evaluation. You also need to value their input and feedback, and to incorporate their ideas and suggestions. Furthermore, you need to share your knowledge and resources, and to leverage the strengths and skills of everyone involved.

6 Promote equity and justice

The sixth step to foster inclusivity is to promote equity and justice with the people you serve and your colleagues. Equity and justice are the ultimate goals of social impact, and they require addressing the structural and systemic factors that cause and perpetuate homelessness and other social issues. To promote equity and justice, you need to advocate for the rights and interests of the people you serve and your colleagues, and to challenge the policies and practices that discriminate or oppress them. You also need to support their empowerment and participation, and to enable them to access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.