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Let’s Explore Housing Accessibility

Read:

• Everything Naomi Loved (ages 5-8)
• Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel (ages 6-10)
• A Shelter In Our Car (ages 5-10)

Watch

The following video contains references to self-harm, suicide

• The Disturbing History of the Suburbs (best for kids 8+)
• How the US made affordable homes illegal (a little complicated, best for ages 12+)

Discuss:

• What is housing insecurity? Has anyone you know ever had trouble finding reliable shelter?
• What is a housing crisis? Does it mean there aren’t enough homes? Or that the empty homes available are just too expensive for regular people?
• What does it mean to be unhoused? How would your morning or bedtime routine be different if you were unhoused?
• How do cities use the word ‘homeless‘ to justify destroying tent cities – communities of unhoused people collaborating and supporting each other? What rights should we protect for unhoused people living in tent cities?
• What is gentrification? Has your family ever been pushed out of your home because you could no longer afford it?

Take Action:

• Mapping Inequality: How was your neighborhood affected by redlining? If it’s not on this map, does your city share resources on historical redlining and race-based policies?
• Donate $5 to 25 to City Life/Vida Urbana – a grassroots community organization committed to fighting for racial, social and economic justice and gender equality by building working class power.
• Tell Congress: It’s time to pass paid leave,  raise the minimum wage, and increase pay transparency!

Additional resources to dig deeper into this topic:

• More kids books about Housing Equity & Accessible Shelter
• Women’s Equal Pay Day
• Dismantling Wealth Inequality 101, a 7-part guide
• Overcoming False Scarcity & Xenophobia with ‘Shelter’
• Galvanizing Kids Books About Poverty Inspiring Kids To Give Back
• Safe & Affordable Housing: Easy Read Edition, via ASAN
• Let’s explore the wealth gap
• For Grownups- Last Week Tonight: Housing Crisis (not appropriate for younger kids, lots of reference to sex & swearing)