Homelessness Surveys Disproportionately Impact Black Men in America

Las Vegas: Maurice Clark was trying to stay warm in his tent near the railroad tracks when outreach workers approached him. They were there to ask questions about his situation to see if he qualified for housing assistance.

They asked him some pretty personal stuff—like if he used drugs or had been in jail. Clark felt uneasy, especially with police officers nearby. He thought, “I’ve done some wild things to survive, but I can’t be honest with them.”

Experts say these surveys can make things worse for Black men like Clark. The way the questions are set up often puts Black people at a disadvantage when it comes to getting housing. The system seems to favor white individuals, which is a big problem.

These vulnerability questionnaires were designed to figure out who’s most at risk of dying while homeless. But they often end up prioritizing white people because they tend to have more medical records and trust the system more.

In the U.S., Black people make up about 13.7% of the population but represent over 32% of the homeless. Meanwhile, white people account for 55% of the homeless population. This disparity is alarming and highlights systemic issues in how homelessness is addressed.

Some experts are calling for a complete overhaul of these assessments. They argue that we need to consider factors like systemic racism and economic challenges, not just health issues. Some cities are already trying to change their systems to help more Black individuals find housing.

For instance, in Los Angeles, officials are using AI to better assess who should get housing first, taking into account the over-policing of Black communities. In Las Vegas, they’re changing their assessment to focus more on systemic issues like incarceration.

Clark, who has been homeless for nearly four years, shared that he didn’t feel comfortable revealing everything during the survey. He worried about how his answers would be used. After taking the survey, he didn’t get any housing offers.

Another man, John Harris, also took the questionnaire multiple times but found it led nowhere. He’s been homeless for years and has faced numerous challenges, yet he was told he didn’t score high enough for housing.

The way these assessments are set up is a major issue. They often don’t accurately reflect the needs of the people they’re meant to help. Some cities are trying to create new surveys that better address racial disparities.

In Clark County, a new assessment was launched after a project revealed that the old system wasn’t connecting people with housing. The new approach considers factors like whether someone is a parent or has a substance use disorder.

Despite these changes, there’s still uncertainty about whether they’ll work. Many Black individuals are still waiting for housing, and the numbers are concerning.

Experts suggest that instead of ranking people, communities should focus on individual needs and local conditions. This could help build trust and ensure that resources are allocated more effectively.

If we don’t tackle these issues, the situation is only going to get worse. The need for a more equitable approach to homelessness is clear, and it’s time for real change.