WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) today announced the release of its latest research report, “Homelessness and Racial Equity in the United States: Assessing Post-2018 Progress.” The report provides a comprehensive look at how 31 major U.S. communities have worked to dismantle racial disparities in homelessness since 2018, highlighting critical progress while warning of new risks to federal equity initiatives.
Since 2018, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) elevated racial equity as a federal priority, communities nationwide have faced increased pressure to address the fact that people of color—particularly Black and Native American individuals—remain disproportionately represented among the homeless population.
“This report is about preserving institutional memory and documenting the concrete steps communities are taking to move toward more equitable outcomes,” said Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of NCH. “In a climate of shifting federal policy, it is essential to show that racial equity work is not a political ideology; it is an evidence-based response to documented disparities.”
Key Findings of the Report:
The NCH research team identified several major themes in the progress made by cities and Continuums of Care (CoCs) across the country:
- Data-Driven Action: The majority of surveyed communities have moved toward disaggregating homelessness data by race and ethnicity, with many launching real-time dashboards to track equity goals.
- Systemic Reform: Communities are increasingly abandoning tools like the VI-SPDAT, which may perpetuate racial bias, in favor of redesigned Coordinated Entry systems that account for racialized risk.
- Institutionalizing Equity: The creation of dedicated Racial Equity Committees and multi-system collaborations (including health, criminal justice, and education) has become a standard for guiding long-term strategy.
- Targeted Funding: Leading jurisdictions are now incorporating equity criteria into their funding competitions and intentionally investing in culturally specific, Black-led organizations.
Urgent Recommendations:
Despite these strides, the report emphasizes that much work remains. The NCH outlines several calls to action for local leaders and policymakers:
- Broaden Data Scope: Include “doubled up” populations (those staying with others) to capture a more accurate picture of housing instability among Latino, youth, and LGBTQ+ communities.
- Upstream Intervention: Partner with eviction prevention and healthcare systems to stop the pipeline into homelessness before it begins. Prevention programs are essential to a well-functioning homeless service system.
- Sustainable Housing: Prioritize zoning reforms and community land trusts in neighborhoods historically impacted by displacement.
- Protect Rights: Advocate for robust source-of-income discrimination protections and fair chance housing policies.
A Call to Local Leadership
With current federal-level rhetoric creating uncertainty for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the NCH report concludes that local leadership is more vital than ever. The document serves as a roadmap for Continuums of Care and municipal governments to maintain their commitment to marginalized communities regardless of the national political environment.
“We cannot effectively address homelessness without confronting the racial inequities that drive it,” the report concludes. “The momentum documented here represents real progress that must not be abandoned.”
For more information or to request a full copy of the report, please contact the National Coalition for the Homeless.
About the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH):
The National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission: to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected.
