“Where do I belong, where is home?”: Experiences of racism and homelessness
Published on 1 October, 2024.
There has for some time been an evidence gap around the experiences of homelessness faced by people of colour. This research sought to address this evidence gap, amplify the voices of those who have experienced racism and homelessness, and draw attention to these issues. While a lack of affordable housing is a key factor in why many people face homelessness, you are more likely to experience homelessness if you are from a minoritised ethnic group; as with poverty, people of colour are overrepresented in homelessness statistics and services. Less clear are the reasons why this is, and what roles direct, indirect, and institutional racism and discrimination play in this over-representation of people of colour in homelessness statistics. The aim of this research is to add more intersectionality to our understanding, highlighting some of the reasons why people of colour are overrepresented, and giving readers better understanding of the additional pressure of racial inequality.