Toward Equity: Latine Experiences of Homelessness

Anti-Latine racism, a chronic shortage of affordable housing, and exclusion from key safety net programs combine to create deep vulnerabilities to homelessness for Latine Californians.

This report, based on the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness (CASPEH), examines who experiences homelessness in the Latine community, their experiences while homelessness, and offers evidence-based policy and program solutions.

Key findings include: 

• 35 percent of adults experiencing homelessness in California identify as Latine.
• Latine adults experiencing homelessness are younger, with a median age of 42, lower than members of other racial groups.
• Nearly half (48%) were in their first episode of homelessness. Among those who completed the survey in Spanish, 71% were.
• Half (52%) entered homelessness from housing without a formal lease, meaning that they were doubled up, living without the legal protections of a lease.  This was especially pronounced among those born outside the U.S. (70%).
• Seventy-nine percent spent most of their nights in unsheltered locations; either outdoors (54%) or in vehicles (26%).
• One-third (33%) of Latine adults had minor children not currently staying with them; 24% reported being separated from their children because of homelessness.
• Nearly all (93%) lost their last housing in California, and most (78%) were still in the same county where they lost housing.
   

We thank the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) for supporting this work.

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