Who We Are

The National Racial Equity Working Group (NREWG) is leading the movement to center racial equity in the response to homelessness across the United States. The working group was launched by Amanda Andere, Marc Dones, Brittani Manzo, Jeff Olivet, and Jessica Venegas in 2019 and is now made up of individuals from 36 organizations focused on housing and homelessness.

Together, we believe that if we center racial equity in our work to end homelessness, in order to be accountable to people of color with lived experience, we expect a system that is effective, inclusive, and racially equitable. 

As a movement, we are working to: 

  • Normalize the concept of dismantling structural racism through policy, practice, and research; 

  • Ensure funding to examine and respond to racial disparities; 

  • Partner with people of color who have lived experience of homeless, including shared leadership and shared power; 

  • Set expectations regarding intentionality in hiring, recruiting and promoting people of color in our organizations; 

  • Conduct local and national projects focused on racial equity; and 

  • Understand that racial equity capacity building is not a one-time effort. 

The Leadership Committee of the National Racial Equity Working Group is made up of the five founding members of the working group and Regina Cannon of C4 Innovations.

The working group appreciates the financial support of our partners at Melville Charitable Trust and the Raikes Foundation.

Member Organizations