Current State

Current State

For many Indigenous youth, homelessness not only describes the lack of a physical home, it may also describe feeling that they are missing a cultural or spiritual identity. (1) In addition to housing, youth are likely to benefit from services that support them to (re)develop these identities. It’s important for youth workers to approach the issue of Indigenous youth homelessness from an understanding of its root systemic causes of colonialism, racism, and discrimination. Prevalence estimates and evidence of homelessness experiences among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) youth have been scarce, though a 2019 study found that AIAN young adults had three times the prevalence rate of homelessness as their white peers. (2) 

For Black communities, the harmful impact of structural racism has perpetuated a cycle of generational economic inequity. Homeownership is one of the primary ways that Americans generate generational wealth. The impact of racist housing zoning laws, discriminatory lending practices, neighborhood segregation, and public housing design have perpetuated barriers to access and attainment of homeownership for Black Americans. (3) The Black homeownership rate has persistently lagged behind that of white families, at a rate of 41.8 percent, (4) the lowest of all racial and ethnic groups. Black households often face unfair property assessments that lead to higher property taxes. (5) Lenders deny Black mortgage applicants at a rate of 80% higher than white applicants - a practice often referred to as a form of modern-day redlining. (6) These factors combine to create greater generational debt for less valuable homes. When it comes to housing instability, 40% percent of Black people experiencing homelessness are a part of families with children. (7) Black youth and young adults have an 83% higher risk of reporting homelessness compared to their white peers. (8)