City Net

Equity Statement

City Net Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Statement

As a community-based organization on a mission to end homelessness, we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Therefore, we affirm the following:

We acknowledge the historic gains achieved by the government and organizations in efforts to achieve racial equity. The gains, while significant, have fallen short of eliminating systemic barriers and inherent bias within these institutions. To foster diversity, equity and inclusion, we commit our time, talents, and resources to:

• Collaborate with local organizations serving communities of color and striving to reduce inequity and promote inclusion.

• Learn from other organizations as they evolve to be more equitable. We will welcome their scrutiny of our organization policies, practices, and programming for any hint of racism, inequity, or exclusion.

• Provide continuous education and discussion on the journey to a more equitable and inclusive culture and society.

• Build and maintain formal partnerships with organizations of color.

• Provide racial equity and cultural competency training to employees.

• Ensure our Board and front-line staff continue to reflect the people they serve including Veterans, people with disabilities, people with prior lived experience of homelessness, domestic violence, substance addiction, and the necessary language skills to serve our subpopulations.

• Provide language interpreter/translator services for people who speak languages other than English not spoken by our staff.

• Ensure our work includes performance measures to determine how well we are doing to address racial disparities.

• Host or participate in training dedicated to improving equitable outcomes.

• Build a culture of inclusion that supports authentic honest conversations, perspectives and life experiences that are different from our own.

• Ensure all our clients and staff feel accepted, have a voice, and can tell their stories without fear of rejection.

Further, we affirm our commitment to a culture of Belonging.

• We believe that everyone has a right to belong and be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or circumstances.

• We recognize that homelessness can be a deeply isolating experience, and we are committed to creating a sense of belonging for our clients by providing a safe and welcoming environment where they can access the support and resources they need to thrive.

• We also strive to foster a sense of belonging among our staff and volunteers, recognizing that a diverse and inclusive team is essential to achieving our mission to end homelessness.