In Memoriam: Colandus “Kelly” Francis April 1st, 2022 By Adam Gordon, Executive Director, Fair Share Housing Center  I’m very sad to share that FSHC’s Board Chair, Colandus “Kelly” Francis, passed away last Saturday.  Kelly was a civil rights giant who in so many ways was at the leading edge for decades of struggles for racial justice in Camden and throughout New Jersey. In addition to being a longtime member, and chair since 2015, of FSHC’s Board, he was a longtime member of the NJ NAACP’s Executive Committee, former President of the Camden County NAACP, and on the boards of the

Housing is a Feminist Issue March 25th, 2022 By Yvette Chen, Planning & Policy Analyst  Urban planning and the design of our cities and suburbs have always perpetuated inequality by race, gender, ability, and class. Historically, marginalized groups, including women, have not been involved in shaping our built landscapes nor housing policies, though they are disproportionately affected by them. Although COVID-19 is first and foremost a health crisis, it has amplified other crises in the home and the labor market. When we think critically about how housing issues and their solutions overlap with structural issues like gender inequality, we can

ARP Funds Provide a Unique Opportunity for NJ to Make a Historic Investment in Affordable Housing February 24th, 2022 Now is the time to think big about addressing New Jersey’s affordability crisis. ARP funding provides a potentially once in a lifetime opportunity to be strategic about how we leverage federal and state dollars to create meaningful and transformational change to address housing inequities and affordability in our state. New Jersey should follow the lead of states like California and New York, who have committed to making historic investments in housing, and use ARP dollars to purposefully address systemic racism, segregated

The Racial History of Housing Discrimination and its Continued Effects in 2022 February 24th, 2022   By Cree Long, FSHC Communications and Development Intern As Black History Month comes to an end, we are once again reminded of the historic connection between housing and race, and the origin story of our organization that is grounded in the power of engaged and organized communities. Our mission is to eliminate exclusionary zoning and housing patterns that prevent lower income and communities of color from residing in safe, affordable, and healthy homes. The Mount Laurel Doctrine, the series of Supreme Court decisions that

Remembering Robert W. Shaffer: Board Member, Advocate, and Friend”  February 1st, 2022 It’s hard to express how deeply we are all feeling the loss of Bob Shaffer, a foundational member of our Board, an advocate, an ally, a mentor, and a friend. We are truly saddened to lose such a wonderful, kind person. The emotions we are feeling will motivate us to continue the legacy of Bob’s tireless advocacy. His life experiences are humbling and a reminder that the fight for civil rights and social justice began not so very long ago and still continues today. Bob loved his communities

Addressing Racial Wealth Disparities in NJ Must be a Priority in 2022 January 18th, 2022 By James Williams, Director of Racial Justice Policy In 2021, Governor Murphy established a Wealth Disparity Task Force to address New Jerseys glaring racial disparities between white people and people of color. This Task Force looks to address wealth disparities through five working groups: housing, education, economy, criminal justice, and health care. New Jersey represents what Dr. King famously identified as the two Americas; tremendous wealth coupled with startling poverty. Some areas in the state are the wealthiest communities in the nation. New Jersey’s nickname