Fair Chance Housing Policies – Impact Research

In response to structural barriers and racial disparities in accessing housing for formerly incarcerated residents, a growing number of jurisdictions have enacted Fair Chance Housing policies that prevent housing providers from utilizing criminal background checks in housing application processes. In 2020, the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, California enacted national north star policies. This mixed methods research study is one of the first in the nation to assess the outcomes of the Fair Chance Housing policies. Utilizing the principles of Community Based Participatory Action Research, the research study includes formerly incarcerated people on the research team as well as on the advisory committee.