Representation in the Housing Process

Those remarks set the tone for Katherine Levine Einstein, who presented the findings from the report – which examined both the failings of current systems to make space for a needed set of diverse voices to help shape housing policies and how communities might bring in those diverse viewpoints.

Einstein presented research that highlighted five areas of opportunity – including:

• A lack of diversity on housing-related boards and commissions
• Representational inequalities in political participation and public meetings
• Processes that favor neighborhood opponents to new development over beneficiaries
• Meeting and survey formats that don’t tap into the broadest range of voices
• A lack of investment in time and resources to ensure surveys and other information reflect the full range of community feedback.

She also shared examples of two communities – Haverhill and Newton, who used a variety of strategies to expand the range of access and input into housing processes, which are spelled out in more detail in the report.

Following the presentation, the panel discussion turned to two of the people who shaped those strategies: Nevena Pilipović-Wengler, the Community Engagement Planner for Newton’s Department of Planning and Development, and State Rep. Andres X. Vargas of Haverhill, who helped shape community outreach on housing policies in that city. They were joined by David Harris, the former Managing Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice for a discussion moderated by Soni Gupta, The Boston Foundation’s Senior Director of Neighborhoods and Housing programs. The wide-ranging but all-too-brief discussion explored the nuts and bolts of Haverhill’s outreach and Newton’s extensive efforts to generate inputs and insights from often-overlooked voices in community planning.