Addressing Equity
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus on promoting equity and inclusion through programs to prevent and end homelessness remains the same. Black, Indigenous, and all people of color as well as individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and individuals with disabilities are substantially overrepresented in the homeless population across the country. These efforts are aligned with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government. As stated in the Executive Order, “because advancing equity requires a systematic approach to embedding fairness in decision-making processes, executive departments and agencies (agencies) must recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity.”
CoCs are encouraged to pursue a vision and mission that explicitly embeds equity in the operation of the homelessness system. Understanding the disparities in outcomes of individuals and families that go through the homelessness system should inform changes in policies, assessment tools and process, and prioritization practices to create more equitable outcomes.
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