Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Ascencia strives to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive comprehensive homeless services agency. We do so by actively soliciting input and feedback from all stakeholders to outline our commitment to supporting our staff and our clients through our work to end homelessness. With our DEI work, we strive to be a leader in the community, and we recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, understanding that homelessness is associated with not only structural racism, but also ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, sexual identity, ability, and socio-economic status. 

We critically examine our program outcomes using multiple demographics to determine if and where bias and discrimination exists with respect to access and outcomes. Ascencia is committed to this work on a long-term/ongoing basis and acknowledges that this depth of change takes time, continual effort, training, investment, and reinforcement. We believe that embracing and championing diversity benefits not only those we serve but our organization, staff, volunteers, and community.  

Non Discriminatory Policy

Ascencia strives for an equitable, just and inclusive work environment. We do so by actively soliciting input and feedback from all employees to not only ensure inclusion and equity but to promote psychological safety, psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability for our employees. Ascencia has adopted and implemented Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) as part of our training models. This training allows our program supervisors, case managers, and staff and our Board of Directors to better understand the social, economic and housing policy failures to remedy poverty and lack of opportunity among people of color. With our DEI work, we strive to be a leader in the community when serving those experiencing homelessness.

DEI in our Work

Ascencia is committed to addressing the issue of racial equity. Homelessness results from systematic inequities, which disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, People of Color and the LGBTQIA communities. We proactively identify and address racial dipartites by requiring our staff be trained in Racial Equity and Inclusion, Cultural Competency, and Implicit Bias. 

Ascencia also engages in targeted outreach efforts to reach marginalized communities. This can involve collaborating with community organizations, social service providers, shelters, and advocacy groups that have established relationships and trust within these communities. Ascencia’s Executive Director advocates for systemic changes via providing Letters of Support for bills that address these issues and by participating in advocacy group meetings and making phone calls to our representatives and constituents. Ascencia has always been diverse but in recent years has been able to demonstrate strategic inclusion and equity at all levels of the organization, including the Board.