Addressing Racial Inequities in Homelessness in Los Angeles County

Homelessness in Los Angeles County is deeply tied to racial inequities, disproportionately affecting Black residents. Although Black people comprise only 9% of LA’s population, they make up 31% of those experiencing homelessness. Recognizing these disparities, the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative launched the Black People Experiencing Homelessness (BPEH) Implementation Steering Committee in 2021 to implement recommendations from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) report on Black homelessness.

With over 60 recommendations outlined in the report, the committee has prioritized 20 for immediate implementation over 1-3 years. These recommendations aim to address systemic racism and provide tangible solutions for unhoused Black residents. The prioritization stems from the historical and structural challenges Black communities face, requiring long-term systemic change at local, state, and national levels.

Key Players in the Effort

Efforts to combat homelessness are led by community members, faith-based organizations, service providers, and policymakers committed to racial equity. Two key organizations at the forefront are Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and HOPICS (Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System).

LAHSA’s Role in Racial Equity

At LAHSA, Saba Mwine-Chang’s role is central to embedding racial equity within Los Angeles’ homelessness services. As appointed the inaugural Deputy Chief Equity Officer, Mwine-Chang oversees a comprehensive plan to address inequities across data/research, policy, and practice throughout LA County’s homelessness response system. As the designated Continuum of Care with the task of providing housing and emergency services, LAHSA works to ensure equitable access to these critical resources. LAHSA fulfilled recommendation #1 of the Ad Hoc Report on Black People Experiencing Homelessness to develop and launch a racial equity initiative at LAHSA to further its commitment to advance racial equity within its workforce and within the homeless crisis response system with the inaugural role of a Deputy Chief Equity Officer. Mwine-Chang’s team catalyzes emerging policy, research, and practice equity implementation projects such as culturally specific and responsive training, equitable funding policy development, and, in partnership with ARDI and others, equity metrics and goals for Measure A funding.

Internally, LAHSA staff have utilized recommendations across the Ad Hoc Report on BPEH, AIAN County Directive #4: Strategy to improve services for American Indian/Alaskan Natives who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness and emerging work of the Taskforce on Latinx Homelessness to devise action plans and key performance indicators and realize various recommendations’ aims. LAHSA cross-departmental matrix teams have organized this work across the following subject areas: Research & Data, Education & Training, System Refinement, Advocacy & Community Engagement, and Resource Availability. In complement to this and other LAHSA project work, Mwine-Chang helps to foster an understanding of how belonging, cultural and racial trauma-informed care, somatic healing, creative play, and culturally specific approaches can inform collective and individual healing and wellness. 

The Coordinated Entry System (CES) in Los Angeles has undergone a significant update with the development of the Los Angeles Housing Assessment Tool (LA HAT). LA HAT is a newly developed version of the VI-SPDAT, a CES triage tool which helps providers generate a vulnerability score to be utilized for prioritization of supportive housing placements. LA HAT is the culmination of a multi-year, community-engaged research effort to redesign the previous triage tool, based on recommendations from the Ad Hoc Report on BPEH.

HOPICS: A Community-Centered Approach

For 36 years, HOPICS has provided support for Service Planning Area 6 (SPA 6), which serves the communities of Athens, Compton, Crenshaw, Florence, Hyde Park, Lynwood, Paramount, and Watts residents experiencing homelessness. Led by Veronica Lewis, a longtime resident of South LA, HOPICS offers comprehensive services that address not only homelessness but also the contributing issues of substance use disorder, mental health, and reentry challenges. The organization’s diverse workforce, comprising many individuals who have experienced homelessness, addiction, or incarceration, embodies HOPICS’s philosophy: “We are the community we serve.”

Lewis’s approach fosters career development and pathways to long-term stability. “Our approach is about creating equity, not just equality,” she explains. HOPICS’s integrated care model includes mental health services, substance use assistance, medical care, and basic needs support, empowering individuals to achieve long-term stability. The organization’s multi-faceted Harm Reduction work- including the distribution of Narcan, for example, has saved over 400 lives from overdoses, underscoring its commitment to meeting people where they are and restorative justice. HOPICS also focuses on its employees’ overall wellness by creating opportunities for access to resources, financial support, and mentorship to address inequities faced by many in their workforce who are a part of marginalized communities.

HOPICS’s tailored housing programs, informed by county data, address critical gaps in service retention. Lewis says, “Data showed us that Black individuals are more likely to fall out of housing programs, so we’re piloting programs that address these retention gaps.” By collaborating with ARDI and the Black People Experiencing Homelessness Implementation Steering Committee, HOPICS has helped shape a countywide response to homelessness that centers on Black voices and experiences.

The County’s Commitment to Racial Equity

The ARDI Initiative is critical in securing funding and coordinating community-wide efforts. A recent report, “The Road May Be Long, But the Journey is Just,” outlines the progress of the BPEH Implementation Steering Committee, which works toward a 10-year plan for systemic change. The committee comprises key partners, including LAHSA, HOPICS, faith-based organizations, and advocates.

Collaborative Impact on Homelessness Reduction

The partnership between LA County, LAHSA, HOPICS, and other community organizations highlights the power of collaboration in addressing homelessness. County support allows for expanded outreach, improved cultural competency, and tailored programs addressing the root causes of homelessness.

However, while progress is being made, it is not happening fast enough. Advocates stress that equity is an ongoing commitment requiring sustained funding and policy transformation. The BPEH Implementation Steering Committee continues to push for long-term systemic reforms to ensure lasting impact.

A Path Forward

Eliminating homelessness in LA County, especially among Black residents, requires government, philanthropic, and community support. Collaboration between organizations and policymakers is essential to ensure compassionate, equity-driven solutions.

For leaders like Saba Mwine-Chang and Veronica Lewis, this work is more than policy—it’s a commitment to justice. Their efforts help pave the way for a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring, and where every Black Angeleno has access to safe and stable housing.

To truly end homelessness, LA County must remain accountable and ensure targeted interventions for Black individuals, families, LGBTQ+ communities, and elderly residents. By working together, a more equitable and just Los Angeles is possible.