Bodies as Houses

“Housing doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” said of the Community Service Society of New York, succinctly capturing the seemingly infinite scope of the Housing Justice/Housing Futures conference at Barnard’s Center for Research on Women. The six panelists tied in issues of Indigenous rights, the environmental crisis, racial inequality, labor organizing, mental and physical health, community/social health, food access, transit, the arts and museums, oral history traditions, and women’s rights. They agreed that while the housing system is one of alienation and abstractions, the lived reality of housing blends with every part of life and society; the uncertain future of housing will reflect that.

The day’s keynote featured a dialogue between and , who each began by telling the story of another Black woman invested in housing justice. This evocation of the personal set the tone for the event, which was marked by calls to strengthen community ties, adopt an anti-capitalist ethos, and remember to rest. Where do we even start, asked an audience member. “Our bodies are houses too. Start there,” Williams replied.