Research

LGBTQ Community: 

Statistics: 

• Have 120% higher chance of becoming homeless

• Within the youth, 40% of them are LGBTQ, but LGBTQ only make up around 9.5% in the overall population 

• More likely to experience assault, trauma, depression, suicide, and other mental health issues in comparison to n

Exiting Homelessness: 

Exiting homelessness is difficult because of the barriers that everyday life has. In order to get a job, you need to have an address, a phone number, email, bank account, etc. Without these things, many places won't hire. Alongside this, with the biases that many people have on homeless, they might think that someone is unreliable, not a good worker, and won't provide them a job. If they are a child/youth, they might not be allowed to work or need certain types of papers and a parental consent, which is not easily accessible. Additionally, with the stigma relating to homelessness and drug/substance abuse, the public view won't provide the same care and kindness they would to others. Also, with the prevalence of homophobia in society, the intersection of youth LGBTQ and homelessness perpetuates the hate coming towards a person.  With these issues in modern day society, the government and society doesn't appear to help to alleviate these issues. There is a big lack of government attention  and social services for how big this issue is. One of the bigger issues is with the community outreach. There is limited personal connections and help for exiting homelessness, due to many stigmas and stereotypes about homeless. This just shows how society is so separated. 

BIPOC LGBTQ: 

Statistics: 

• 20% of Black Transgender people were unemployed

• 38% in poverty

• Two times the rate of non-transgender Black 

Becoming homeless as a BIPOC LGBTQ people has a much higher risk than just BIPOC or LGBTQ because it combines those intersectionalities. There is the idea of anti-Black hate, white supremacy, and homophobia. Combining these ideas provide an example for  all the issues that a BIPOC LGBTQ may have to face. This exacerbates the chances of becoming homeless as it become easier to become homeless and harder to escape because of all the boundaries that exiting has. They have to face fears of family rejection along with the political climates of being both a person of color and an LGBTQ identifying person. 

Sources: 

LGBTQ: “LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness.” National Network for Youth, 9 June 2022, https://nn4youth.org/lgbtq-homeless-youth/. 

African Americans

Statistic: 

• “represent 13 percent of the general population but account for 39 percent of people experiencing homelessness and more than 50 percent of homeless families with children” (National Alliance) 

Reasoning: 

There is a concentration of African Americans experiencing homelessness much higher than other groups. A lot of this leads back to the racial prejudice of the past. Many features that date back to segregation and racist America such as redlining still has its effects today. Black Americans tend to live more concentrated in poverty, being exposed to environmental toxins, limited quality health care and services, economic opportunities, and good sources of food. (National Alliance) Due to systemic housing discrimination, moving to a "nicer neighborhood" isn't as simple as it sounds. On average, people of color have been shown less apartments to rent as well as denied more leases. In comparison, white Americans often get offered lower rents, making it more affordable and easier to move out of poverty. Through their privilege, they were able to get lower rents since fees tended to be more negotiable. (National Alliance) 

The widening wealth gap also seems to be from intergenerational wealth. Inheritance is one of the starting factors that sets up someone's social class. Considering on average nonwhites tend to earn less income and have less opportunities, this makes them at risk for a higher amount of debt. When looking at a survey called "The Color of Wealth" where Boston residents were surveyed on their lifestyle and connections to race, the majority of whites had savings account while other races fell behind. Without a savings account or steady financial security, many people aren't set up for retirement as it makes what one may see as a small issue, like a health bill, seem detrimental. In terms of credit cards, nonwhites are more likely to have contracts with their card with more disadvantageous terms and agreements. On average, people of color own less credit cards, have more loans, and higher debt, making it harder to pay off the debt, leading them farther into poverty. 

Measuring home ownership was clear that nonwhites are less likely to own homes as only around 33% of blacks and other hispanics were classified as home owners. The survey saw that minorities were less likely to own homes, and when they did, had higher mortgage debt. Whites on average owned more assets, both liquid and total, giving them an easier lifestyle and more comfortability. 

The overall rationale for these differences have to do with age and education. Nonwhites were younger and less educated than the whites surveyed, giving them some leeway for the differences. These also come from being deprived of property from around 1880-1910. Additionally, people of color were excluded from many policies after the Great Depression as well as World War II. This shows that the systemic housing discrimination is not just from one or two things, it comes all the way back from history and still has its presence in today's society. 

(See the graphics page for charts on these statistics)

When looking at The Race Gap, an interactive display of statistics and explanations between the differences on Black and White Americans, it's clear that very difficult to undo the damages of our pasts. Due to limited access to quality health care, black women are more likely to die during pregnancy or have postpartum complications. As blacks tend to live in more impoverish communities, the health systems are not as plentiful or as accessible. Furthermore, black infants die much more commonly than white infants do. Although the Affordable Health Care Act was passed, there is still some gaps in the bridges between whites and blacks. If one knows they don't have a very good healthcare coverage, as blacks are less likely to have healthcare, they can refuse getting help and suffering health injuries on their own, making the life expectancy of them lower by around 4 years compared to whites. 

Despite Brown v BOE, blacks still frequently go to segregated schools. As learning sets up the education and the future, a high quality preschool can be very beneficial. But, only about 15% of blacks go to quality pre schools while 24% of whites do, showing how the gap starts even at such a young age. Additionally, predominantly nonwhite schools spent about 2000 dollars less per student than predominantly white schools, explicating the overfunding of schools. 

Sources: 

“Homelessness and Racial Disparities.” National Alliance to End Homelessness, 14 Apr. 2023, https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/inequality/.

Muñoz, Ana Patricia. “The Color of Wealth.” The New Press, 21 Oct. 2005, https://thenewpress.com/books/color-of-wealth.

Hart, Samuel. “The Race Gap.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 14 July 2020, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-RACE/USA/nmopajawjva/#food-insecurity.