How Structural Racism Contributes to Black Men Being at Risk for Homelessness

• In Event: Spatial and Structural Racism in the US

Abstract

Despite women experiencing higher rates of economic hardships, men (61%) are more likely to experience homelessness than women (38%) in the U.S. There is also racial disparity within the homeless population. Black people who comprise 13% of the total population, are overrepresented among the homeless population (37%) compared to their White counterparts who make up 59% of the total population and 50% of the homeless population. Therefore, one could conclude that the intersection of race and gender makes Black men, in particular, vulnerable to experiencing homelessness. Black men face a particularly high risk of homelessness due to systemic racism, including discriminatory practices in housing, employment, and the criminal justice system. These systemic barriers contribute to increased poverty and housing instability, making Black men 1.41 times more likely to experience homelessness than White men. Despite this disparity, research has largely overlooked the specific experiences of Black men, focusing more so on veterans, youth, women, and health-related issues among homeless populations. Studies highlight racial disparities but rarely address how systemic racism creates an oppressive system that uniquely impacts Black men’s pathways into and out of homelessness. This presentation aims to address this gap in the literature using the Ecological Model of Homelessness and Critical Race Theory to examine the influence of structural racism on identified risk factors for homelessness. The presentation will include recommendations for using existing solidarity and power within the Black community and its allies to disrupt these oppressive systems that contribute to disparities in homelessness among Black men.

Author

• Kristen Daniels, Binghamton University