The history of structural racism in the US has led to people of color, especially Black and Indigenous people, being overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness. Discriminatory practices like redlining and mass incarceration have prevented Black communities from building wealth and economic security. Indigenous people have also faced barriers to financial opportunity due to forced displacement from their lands and government management of resources, among other policies. As a result of this historic exclusion from wealth-building opportunities, these groups are most likely to experience poverty and homelessness.

Recognizing housing as a human right—not a privilege or something earned—is essential when considering ways to prevent and end homelessness. The right to adequate housing (part of our housing justice framework) considers not only housing supply but also affordability, accessibility, equity, and choice, enshrining a collective responsibility to protect that right and ensure housing for all.

This section outlines four policy and programmatic strategies for addressing homelessness: systems-level racial equity analysis, Housing First, emergency response resources, and master leasing. It also provides examples of how each strategy can be implemented in a way that centers racial equity and promotes housing justice.

Next intervention: Systems-Level Racial Equity Analysis