Given the recent and abrupt erosion of anti-discrimination protections at the federal level, advocates say it is more important than ever to continue the fight for local-level laws to prevent discrimination against people with conviction records. This episode features two “Fair Housing” advocates: James E. Walker, Jr., founder and executive director of the Cleveland-based Greater Possibilities, and Marie Claire Tran-Leung, director of the Evictions Initiative Project at San Francisco-based National Housing Law Project. Both have fought to strengthen and enforce low-income tenants’ and homeowners’ rights, increase underserved communities’ housing opportunities, and preserve and expand the nation’s supply of safe and affordable homes. They discuss their work with respect to establishing local-level housing policies that prevent discrimination against people with conviction records.

The recent increase in incarceration rates among women within the federal prison system means unique challenges the women face upon their release. In this episode, guest Tanya Pierce, the executive director of Life Unbolted, discusses what reform measures are needed to address this crisis.