Discrimination: A Stronghold of Black Youth Homelessness
The main goal of REST Centers is to assist Black youth who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness to gain access to housing in their quest for a stable foundation towards independent living. This is achieved through our holistic housing first approach, which makes provision for rent subsidies, wrap-around support, basic necessities, and skill development.
The unique challenges faced by Black youth transitioning out of the foster care system and at risk of homelessness account for our stronghold as the Black-led and Black-centric organization that is at the forefront of helping to eliminate homelessness in the Peel Region. Our Black-centric perspective is grounded in sensitiveness to the culture, values, lived-experience, and resiliency of Black youth as they navigate the process of "Shelter Dignity" amid discrimination and inequities in social, economic, institutional, political, and related systemic challenges. We aimed to improve the psychological, social, and mental health, as well as the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of homeless youth to enable them to live healthier and happier lives.
We share light here on the lived experience of clients who have been responsive to REST support in navigating through the deep seated discriminatory and systemic challenges that impeded their quest for a dignified shelter towards independent living.
Ethnic and Gender Discrimination, A Lived Experience
“In my search for housing, I felt discriminated against a lot because most of the cheap rooms in my location that could fit into my budget were owned by landlords from specific non-Black racial or ethnic backgrounds, and in some instances, they were direct in stating that they did not want to rent out to Black people. For others, as soon as they see you, their mood and emotional disposition change, with no room for engagement, with the comment "the room is no longer available." In one related experience, the landlord specifically mentioned that the room is only reserved for female tenants and those belonging to a particular ethnic origin. This discriminatory experience was painful for me because I found good, cheap rooms near my college, but I was rejected most of the time, and it was devastating. REST helped me a lot through the Bridge of Hope Program, which paired me with a bridge builder who not only offered cheap accommodation but also a relationship that promoted my stable, independent living. This really took the stress out of me, knowing that I have somewhere to lean on and that people are there to help and support me. I would be eternally grateful to them. " - Aissatou
The story of Aissatou is not an isolated case, and it must be stated that discrimination has been documented as one of the intrinsic factors that Black youths are bedevilled with in their search for housing. (Abdillahi & Shaw , 2020) point out that prohibiting screening requirements are sometimes applied by landlords to indirectly refuse or exclude the offering of rent services to Black youths. This includes raising the first month and last month’s rent, collecting multiple applications to screen for preferred tenants based on the landlord’s own established criteria, and total refusals that are not founded on even ability to pay. Eliminating landlord discrimination is key to the REST approach to housing stability, as our innovative Bridge of Hope program performs practical and culturally sensitive screening of landlords and clients who are trained and given the needed resources to live harmoniously together irrespective of ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, color, or creed. The relationship management approach transcends beyond normal transactional tenants' and landlords’ contractual relationships as there is the revelation and application of inherent social capital that promotes cordial living devoid of unwanted evictions.
Pandemic Stress Cum Homelessness the Story Untold
Connecting to another shared and lived experience strengthens our resolve to end rental discrimination and all other forms of inequity that push Black youth to the margins. If there is any emotional and sympathetic story that must be revisited from the COVID-19 pandemic apart from the deaths, it is the need to unravel how homeless youths were able to sail through. Just for one moment, imagine yourself being isolated without a dignified shelter as a homeless youth in the mist of COVID-19. Perhaps your guess might be as good as mine, loneliness, fears, psychological mental health, and other related agonies.
I remember in 2020, during the pandemic, I was homeless and living in a shelter in Brampton by the airport area. Rhoan [friend of the speaker] and I were looking for a house, and believe me, it was not easy. There was a specific landlord who I remember exactly how the process worked, so Rhoan made a phone call after seeing the place on the internet. We asked the landlord if we could come and do a viewing of the place. The landlord agreed. The following day, Rhoan and I went to see the place. The moment we arrived; the energy shifted. The landlord didn't seem happy to see us. He mentioned that he and his wife preferred someone from their own country. It was very frustrating for me because I was desperate to leave the shelter and start a new life amid the pandemic and challenges I was facing in relation to my health. " -Lunkulu
Clearly, homeless youth are the focus of discrimination and stigmatization when it comes to the search for housing. Due to the complexities of social, economic, and systemic challenges, they find it extremely difficult to rent accommodation that provides the foundation for their growth (CERA; NRHN; SRAC;, 2021). When the complexities of systemic and socio-economic factors are put together, it reinforces youthful homelessness as an acceptable norm for most of them. However, it must be noted that any form of discrimination is a social canker and must be dealt with from all angles to eliminate its internalization as an expected practice in our society.
Along with racial inequality is the deep-rooted poverty that stems from several systemic issues brought on by government policies. These issues include the high rate of incarceration and over-representation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system, brought on by the continuing effects of the war on drugs (Nathan Okanta, Homeless Hub). Discrimination against youths in need of housing based on race, gender, income, and mental health requires a comprehensive approach.It is for this reason that shifting blame on homeless youths as the cause of their own problems must be avoided to instil a sense of working together and in partnership with the government, the private sector, and civil society to eliminate youth homelessness.
REST Centers will continue to scale-up our programs to deal with factors that promote discrimination against youth in search of housing, such as the launching of the Healing Emotionally Restoring Opportunity (The HERO Program) to provide group therapeutic support for clients. This program enables REST to address the trauma and stigma encountered by our clients who have been through the foster care system and are at risk of homelessness to bring reassurance and confidence for stable living. REST Centers' upcoming culturally sensitive youth tenant and landlord training is a unique program that also aims at dealing with prejudice, stigma, and emotional issues that obstruct renting houses to youth. Blended with the life skills program the opportunity will abound for REST clients to scale-up the ladder to earn income for future living.
Black youth are more than the issues that society puts upon them, and REST Centers want the youth of our community to grow and become successful. We want to see them contribute to the well-being of their own community, strengthening it and leading it to brighter days using their qualities and talents.
We understand the disheartening feeling of imagining a situation where Black youth would have to deal with all the factors that push against them. We hope that the first-hand experiences of our youth will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the issues they face. It is vital that REST Centers continue to reveal the ongoing racial inequality, poverty, and systemic oppressions of Black and racialized individuals to raise awareness in our community. It is also important that our readers share this message, as well as the stories of our youth, to bring attention to the injustices happening every day. We implore you to support the just call of REST to eliminate homelessness whilst rallying against all forms of discrimination and injustice in our system.
Listen to our latest podcast - Episode 6: Gender-based Violence and Homelessness, from a Women with Lived Experience.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zZc6Le7bsEM4ZlXcWlJHf
References
Abdillahi , I., & Shaw , A. (2020). Social determinants and inequities in health for Black Canadians: A Snapshot. Retrieved April 13, 2022 from Government of Canada: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canada.ca%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fphac-aspc%2Fdocuments%2Fservices%2Fhealth-promotion%2Fpopulation-health%2Fwhat-determines-health%2Fsocial-determinants-inequities-black-ca
CERA; NRHN; SRAC;. (2021). Housing Discrimination and Spatial Segregation in Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2022 from chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ohchr.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FDocuments%2FIssues%2FHousing%2FSubmissionsCFIhousingdiscrimin%2FCERA-NRHN-SRAC.pdf&clen=4896152&chunk=true
Homeless People in Toronto | About Homelessness. (n.d.). Homes First. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://homesfirst.on.ca/about-toronto-homelessness/
Homelessness and Racial Disparities. (n.d.). National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/inequality/
Okanta, N. (n.d.). Reflecting on Black Youth Homelessness | The Homeless Hub. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/reflecting-black-youth-homelessness
Racialized Communities | The Homeless Hub. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/racialized-communities
Reflecting on Black Youth Homelessness | The Homeless Hub. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/reflecting-black-youth-homelessness