Equity Matters
Some people have special challenges with housing. For example:
- Veterans who have experienced interpersonal violence are at higher risk for unstable housing. Many veterans also have other health issues and past trauma. In addition to stable housing, veterans should have access to mental health and substance abuse care. []
- Immigrants and American Indian/Native Alaskan people also have more barriers to stable housing.[]
- Many undocumented immigrants do not access resources due to a threat of deportation. Language barriers can block access to housing for non-English speakers, as well.[]
- Many survivors, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, do not feel safe in shelters due to a high rate of hostility and assault.[,]In addition, some shelters do not meet the needs of people with disabilities.[]
- Few shelters available to some populations, such as cisgender male survivors.
[VH1] Jackson, C. (2021, August 17). What is redlining? The New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/17/realestate/what-is-redlining.html
[VH25] Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence (ACESDV). (2000, June). BEST PRACTICES MANUAL For Domestic Violence Programs. VAWnet. Retrieved January 27, 2022. https://vawnet.org/material/best-practices-manual-domestic-violence-programs
[VH26] Ari, S. (2012, December 6). Why some homeless choose the streets over shelters. NPR. Retrieved May 4, 2022. https://www.npr.org/2012/12/06/166666265/why-some-homeless-choose-the-streets-over-shelters
[VH27] National Coalition for the Homeless. (n.d.). LGBT homelessness. Retrieved May 4, 2022. https://nationalhomeless.org/lgbtq-homelessness/
[VH28] Ferezan, T. (2021, October 8). Experiencing homelessness as a person with a disability. Texas Homeless Network. Retrieved May 4, 2022. https://www.thn.org/2021/10/08/disability/