New Tools from HUD Help Build Equity into Homelessness Response Systems

National data show vast racial disparities in who experiences homelessness and, in some instances, the outcomes within homeless ness services systems. COVID-19 has amplified the historic and current racial biases and discrimination embedded in our systems, processes, and practices. To address those disparities, HUD has published a host of recent resources :

• Increasing Equity in the Homeless Response System Through Expanding Procurement provides tips on how j urisdictions can take steps to appropriately address racial inequities in planning and procurement within their COVID-19 re s ponse .

• Data and Equity: Using the Data That You Have provides tips for how to begin your equity data analysis.

• Prevention to Promote Equity provides guidance on how to embed principles of equity throughout the design, implementation, and monitoring of targeted prevention activities. It is a companion document to A Framework for Homelessness Prevention and Homeless Prevention: Effective and Efficient Prevention Programs .

• Rehousing Activation and Racial Equity Part 1: Equity as the Foundation discusses using Racial Equity Impact Assessment s as a way to examine how different racial and ethnic groups will likely be affected by proposed funding decisions, processes, programs, and policies.

• Untapped Expertise: Strategies for Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement When Developing Your Coordinated Investment Plan discusses considerations for bringing diverse stakeholders into your community’s collaborative planning process.

• Equity-Driven Changes to Coordinated Entry Prioritization discusses why, how , and when to make equity-driven changes to coordinated entry. This document is a companion to Changes to Coordinated Entry Prioritization to Support and Respond to COVID-19 .