Toward Equity - Understanding Black Californians’ Experiences of Homelessness - Findings from the California Statewide Study

To better understand the experiences of Black Californians experiencing homelessness, the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) examined the experience of Black Californians within the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), the largest representative study of homelessness since the mid-1990s. [...] 11 that systematically marginalize Black people.5,6 The system of Jim Crow segregation – a set of legal The ongoing effects of structurally racist policies, and social codes that dictated the complete separa- anti-Black racism, and discrimination have led, tion of Black and white people and the relegation of directly and indirectly, to an increased risk of home- Black people as second class citize. [...] Toward Equity: Understanding Black Californians’ Experiences of Homelessness 9 INTRODUCTION The grade of the neighborhood not only dictated In 2023, the US Census Bureau found the largest the property value of houses in the area, but also homeownership gap in a decade: 75% of white the type of investments that the city made towards households own their homes compared to 45% of developing those nei. [...] Toward Equity: Understanding Black Californians’ Experiences of Homelessness 11 INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE STUDY To understand the specific experiences of home- The California Statewide Study of People lessness for Black Californians, we recruited Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH) is the participants who identified as Black for a qualita- largest representative study of homelessness in the tive sub-s. [...] Toward Equity: Understanding Black Californians’ Experiences of Homelessness 17 © Sam Comen WHO IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES HOMELESSNESS Intergenerational Trauma Incarceration In the introduction, we outlined how the overrep- Similar to members of other racial groups, over resentation of Black communities in the homeless three quarters (78%) of Black Californians expe- population arises fro.