Black people have often been at the forefront of movements for social change across the United States, both past and present, from protesting racial segregation to organizing against police brutality. The repercussions of racism have yielded disparate outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities across the socioeconomic gamut, including homelessness.

During Black History Month, the Alliance wanted to highlight the voices of Black leaders in the movement to end homelessness. Here’s why they say we should continue the commitment to racial equity and justice in the collective work to address this crisis:

Kahlib Barton – True Colors United

Homelessness is a cultural issue that requires a cultural response. There is no way to address homelessness without including people who have the unique experiences faced by the most impacted individuals in and out of homelessness response systems. Unfortunately, in the majority of cases the factor of race has a visceral impact on these unique experiences. Now more than ever, we have to be in a consistent state of analyzing the issue of race in its relation to housing injustice. As we learn more about how to adequately address housing injustice we have to shift policies, practice, and power to be representative of and responsive to the individuals we are working diligently to reach.

Dimitri Groce – Building Changes

Black struggle and innovation have always gone hand in hand in our country. Black leaders and community members had to innovate in order to survive in a system that excluded us and denied our humanity. That said, millions of people rely on institutions today like our national emergency response system and universal entitlement programs like SNAP. These programs emerged from the radical and strategic vision of movements like the Freedmen’s Bureau, Black Panther Free Breakfast Program, and philosophies like Universal Basic Income.

Read the full article about lessons for ending homelessness at National Alliance to End Homelessness.