Equity is the Answer All Along: Addressing Racial Trauma and Homelessness

From our sponsor CSH:

We see the impact of these policies in the disproportionate rate of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) experiencing homelessness in every single state, understanding that racism is a driver of homelessness. We also see BIPOC disproportionately impacted by both economic losses and deaths by COVID-19 – also due to historic and ongoing systemic racial inequities.

Given what we know about the disparities among people experiencing homelessness and the pandemic, a critical question to ask, which has not received as much attention as warranted, is: How are BIPOC who are experiencing homelessness coping with the additional stressors related to COVID-19? We know that laudable efforts are underway to house and vaccinate vulnerable people during this devastating pandemic, but we should also be advocating for systems and programs to be just as vigilant about addressing the combined toll of racism, homelessness, and COVID-19 on the mental health of BIPOC individuals experiencing housing instability and homelessness.

Racial Disparities and Behavioral Health

In addition to housing disparities, data suggests that BIPoC are far less likely than Whites to receive treatment for behavioral health issues, and this predates the pandemic. We now have a great opportunity, and the momentum to rethink our strategies for service delivery to BIPoC communities.

Many organizations are restructuring their systems in light of COVID-19 and racial turmoil exacerbated by murders like that of Mr. George Floyd. We should begin to actively build multi-racial coalitions and service approaches to engage in advocacy to address racial trauma and healing.

Addressing Racial Trauma Among People of Color Experiencing Homelessness

Those of us in the field must seek to understand the intersection of racial trauma and the trauma of homelessness. Racial trauma is complex trauma resulting from the ongoing experience of oppression and subordination; it is mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes. [Dr. Wendy Ashley, California State University Northridge] BIPoC experiencing or falling into homelessness in the US often know racial trauma and oppression via multiple systems, and often for generations. Across the country, Indigenous and Black people are disproportionately represented not only in homeless populations, but in the feeder systems to homelessness, including child welfare and justice systems. Meanwhile, we know that Latinx people are overwhelmingly undercounted in homeless counts, suggesting they are not being served to the scale of their needs.

Employing culturally specific or racially conscious trauma-informed care can help organizations and communities navigate the complexities of racial trauma. Culturally specific care means working to ensure that behavioral and healthcare providers share cultural/racial identities with those they serve, so as to protect from potential interpersonal harm in the therapeutic setting.