Racial Disparities in Homelessness

exploring racial disparities in homelessness is important

Recent research from the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that most racial minority groups consistently experience homelessness at higher rates than whites. African Americans made up more than 40 percent of the population experiencing homelessness in the January 2017 Point in Time Count, while only making up 13 percent of the general population in the US. This disproportionate representation is a direct result of structural disadvantages caused by discriminatory policies that denied African Americans the same housing opportunities as Whites.

Next Steps

Acknowledging the lasting impact of systemic racism on current racial disparities in homelessness is an important first step towards addressing the issue. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying causes of these disparities. In 2016, the Center for Social Innovation launched SPARC (Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities) to contribute to these research efforts. A recent report released by SPARC explores pathways into homelessness and barriers to exiting homelessness for people of color. ICA will continue to build upon this efforts in order to better inform both policy makers and the broader public on racial disparities in homelessness..