The Racial Equity in Homelessness Initiative

Shifting the culture and workforce of the homeless response system.

Problem Statement — The 2021-22 Racial Equity Fellows worked together to articulate the problem with homelessness.

We know that BIPOC folks make up a majority of the population of people experiencing homelessness. The consequence of devastating legacies—from slavery and redlining, to segregated education and disproportionate criminal justice involvement—is that Black people in LA are four times more likely to experience homelessness than people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Additionally, we acknowledge that modern Indigenous homelessness is directly connected to settler colonialism and subsequent policies of removal, termination, assimilation, and relocation. In spite of these disproportionate impacts, BIPOC individuals hold a small portion of executive leadership positions across the homeless response sector.

This lack of proximity to people with lived expertise and lack of representation has created a charity-based deficit model for the sector. We are changing that by recruiting more equity-focused BIPOC folks with lived experience into leadership roles, equipping them to lead and advance racial equity, and retain top talent with equitable practices.

Our Approach

SJPLA's Racial Equity in Homelessness Initiative is a three-pronged approach to shifting the culture and workforce of the homeless response system, grounding solutions in racial and social justice that will lead to the solutions to end homelessness.

Recruit

Recruit a diverse talent pool to join and lead the homeless response system. Engage people of color and individuals with lived experiences of homelessness to join Los Angeles’s homeless services workforce.

Equip

We equip providers with tools to advance racial equity in their workplaces and the services they provide. We also work with our Fellows to advance their careers and lead through collective impact to strengthen equity across the sector.

Retain

We retain top talent by supporting executive leaders in creating more inclusive and equitable workplace cultures. Thanks to a $3M investment by Cedars Sinai, we are also investing in the financial and emotional wellbeing of the folks who care for our unhoused neighbors.

Recruit, Equip, and Retain

in action

REI Fellowship

The Racial Equity Fellowship identifies emerging talent to pursue leadership opportunities in the homeless response sector. These fellows spend nine months building relationships, connecting to larger questions around racial equity and homelessness, and creating a framework for centering equity and inclusion within the workplace.

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Hilton Foundation Policy & Systems Change Fellowship

A two-year, full-time, paid program for individuals who want to improve service delivery systems and policies. The fellowship is designed to fast-track leaders with frontline and direct service experience to homelessness-related positions in L.A. County’s public sector.

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Wellbeing Series

A free, monthly workshop introducing a variety of healing modalities to workers in the homeless response sector. These sessions promote personal rest, renewal, and connection creating space for discussion on how to sustain wellbeing practices.

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Community Care and the Workplace

A free five-week course for folks who would like to bring the healing justice framework to their workplaces.

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Racial Equity Executive Directors Cohort

A learning journey for leaders in the homelessness response sector committed to advancing racial justice.
Nonprofit Cohort: An ongoing program for white Executive Directors.
Public Sector Cohort: A two-year program for government leaders.
Both cohorts allow participants to develop robust strategies for racial equity in their organizations and communities.

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Living Wage Report

A living wage analysis to support funders and providers in assessing the gap in funding needed to provide a living wage to all workers in the sector.

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Supporting Frontline Workers Fund

We are granting $2M to homeless response providers to distribute direct funds to frontline workers

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