September 10, 2020

Wildfires in California pose an extended respiratory risk to people experiencing homelessness, who often lack shelter and protective masks. Some, but not all, counties have distributed wildfire-specific personal protective equipment to help. “They’re saying people like me with vulnerabilities need to be in a safe place, but I don’t have a home. Now I have two hazards [COVID-19 and wildfires] to face,” said Susana de Sant’Anna of San Francisco. 

Liam Spady, who spent years in the foster care system and understands firsthand the adversity housing insecurity can cause, founded the nonprofit Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services’ Young Adult Leadership Committee to fight against that very issue. The nonprofit collaborates with entities such as the School District of Philadelphia to address youth homelessness and housing insecurity in cities like Philadelphia, which has the highest population of foster care youth per capita. Homelessness is often overlooked, and addressing it requires “removing [the] barrier for people, especially of color and who have historical challenges as a community,” states Spady.

A new study from the University of Washington suggests the rental housing market’s use of coded, racist language is a major factor in sustaining neighborhood segregation. Mapping language themes showed that rentals in neighborhoods where a majority of residents are people of color were likely to emphasize “safety,” private amenities, and easy commutes outside of the neighborhood. Comparable units in predominately white areas were more likely to be described as having “strong community.” “These ads show the historical legacy… of practices like restrictive covenants that made neighborhoods exclusive, and drove up the value of housing because of that exclusivity,” said Quintard Taylor, professor emeritus at the University of Washington. 

In an effort to limit gentrification and displacement in low-income neighborhoods, cities are implementing construction and demolition moratoriums. Housing advocates argue neighborhoods that have received public infrastructure investment are particularly vulnerable to increased rent and taxes as a result of redevelopment. But developers and construction firms state building is necessary to aid the struggling economy. “The challenge comes when that public investment leads to people who have lived there for a generation or more not being able to benefit from it,” said Atlanta city council member Andre Dickens.