Homelessness disproportionately affects people of the global majority and other groups who have been historically marginalized. Structural and systemic racism can look different in different parts of the world, but we see an undeniable global throughline between racism and homelessness. In addition, experiential knowledge — knowledge derived from personal experience — of what works and what doesn’t work in a system is rarely valued or used in governmental decision-making due to power dynamics and inequitable knowledge exchange practices. In order to effectively prevent and end homelessness, equity — tailored support or solutions based on the understanding of the unique challenges and barriers faced by individuals or populations — must be prioritized.
