About Us
Our Mission
Justice 4 Housing is a grassroots organization committed to ending housing discrimination and homelessness for individuals impacted by incarceration, and individuals criminalized for being a victim of domestic violence, as well as ending incarceration.
What We Do
We use policy to change laws, & create systemic change.
We use advocacy to lift up the voices of our constituents, and we use their voices to educate those who oppose us and those who don’t understand us.
We use service to provide a critical resource—housing—thus creating a pathway to generational wealth and equity.
The Problem
Current Public Housing Authority (PHA) policies and regulations unduly limit access to housing assistance for Justice-Impacted Individuals (JIIs) and their families. These policies disproportionately affect people of color, who, despite making up only 17% of the state population, represent 50% of the incarcerated population.
Current PHA policies restricting housing access to JIIs are harmful, discriminatory, and based on archaic views of the criminal justice system. Denying access to subsidized housing makes it more likely that JII’s will experience homelessness, unemployment, and ultimately criminal justice involvement, perpetuating a grim cycle of poverty and recidivism. When JIIs can’t find stable housing, they have a much harder time finding and keeping jobs, maintaining their health, and pursuing educational opportunities – the very things that make recidivism less likely, communities safer, and families healthier.
Hear from Our Clients
Louise Cruz-Partee
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Jose Lorenzo
“All in all, starting from scratch struggling to obtain stability for me and my growing family as a citizen returning back into society, proven to be rehabilitated, I wouldn’t have gotten this far had it not been for Justice 4 Housing.
The only people who seem to care about the forgotten population. I am truly grateful to have gained such an ally/ Advocate/ Supporter and voice for the unheard.”
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Alba Luz Andino
“If you really want to change your life, they’re here to help you.
They’ll help you get your family and to keep you in a safe place, like they did for me and mine.”
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Meet Our Founder
Leslie Credle, a Northeastern Alumni, 2022 ECHO Green & 2023 Social Innovator Forum Fellow, is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and social justice in housing access. As a survivor of incarceration, Leslie has dedicated her leadership, voice, and lived experience to reforming inequitable systems.
In her role as the Founder and Executive Director of Justice 4 Housing, Leslie passionately unites communities impacted by incarceration and domestic violence, leading the charge against biased policies that deny housing security. She is a fierce advocate in the movement to end the incarceration of women and girls, and is determined to create generational wealth and reunify families. Leslie’s expertise lies in developing unique programs that provide homeownership opportunities, permanent subsidized housing, and systemic policy changes, ensuring a successful reentry for Justice-Impacted Individuals.
Thank You to Our Supporters
