Allowing landlords, employers, and other important gatekeepers to access information on criminal records can create serious barriers to housing, jobs, and other opportunities. In this talk, Lauren Russell, a Meyer Fellow and Harvard PhD candidate in Public Policy, will introduce a new database that catalogues the evolution of the public and private entities which, starting in the 1970s, made it much easier for landlords and employers to access this information. She will also link the evolution of these systems to public discourse about crime and race, and explain how these systems may have contributed to racial inequality in both housing and employment, particularly before 2000, when there were few limits on the use of this information.
The Housing Needs of Undocumented Residents
JOIN US VIRTUALLY ON FRIDAY, JULY 25TH 12PM
Undocumented immigrants face unique and often invisible barriers to housing—exclusion from federal programs, fear of retaliation, and discriminatory screening practices.
Join us for a timely conversation on how we can break down these barriers and advance housing solutions that include everyone—regardless of immigration status.
We’ll explore:
– Why undocumented immigrants are excluded from key housing programs
– How fear and discrimination drive housing instability
– Local policies and community-based models creating real change