SPARC: A C4 Racial Equity Initiative
People of color are disproportionately more likely than White people to experience homelessness in the U.S. Systemic discrimination and racism have resulted in disparities in the ways in which homeless and housing services and programs impact diverse populations.
SPARC is a collaboration with partners and communities to understand and respond to racial inequities and to jump start implementation of racial equity strategies in homeless services, programs, policies, and systems.
A SPARC report documented high rates of homelessness among people of color in our partner communities: approximately 65% of people experiencing homelessness were Black, while 28% were White. Homelessness among American Indian/Alaskan Natives in the SPARC communities was 3 to 8 times higher than their proportion of the general population. Read SPARC's report to see findings and recommendations for organizational leaders, researchers, policymakers, and community members.
We Can Help You
- Learn about different levels of racism
- Examine histories of housing discrimination, health inequities, and criminalization of communities of color
- Establish an understanding of connections between racism and homelessness
- Increase skills to initiate productive conversations about race, racism, and equity
- Examine what is happening in your program or community with a racial equity lens
- Review data and redesign programs, policies, procedures, and systems to reduce high rates of homelessness for people of color
- Envision what it means to be an inclusive and equitable organization
- Develop skills for implementing anti-racism strategies in homeless service agencies
"The training showed me I need to educate myself more about the history of racism and its impact on homelessness. The training also influenced my willingness to have those uncomfortable conversations needed to make change." –Training participant from New Jersey
"I thought the training was absolutely amazing...the trainers/facilitators did a great job of creating a safe space, encouraging engagement..." –Training participant from Ohio
"It sparked my personal and I believe our collective imagination for how to engage in this work. I have new ideas percolating and know my team does as well. I feel more confident engaging in these conversations in the immediate future." –National training participant
Our Experts
SPARC is an initiative of C4 Innovations in partnership with The Bassuk Center on Homeless and Vulnerable Children & Youth and with support from the Oak Foundation and local funders in communities around the country.
Learn More
- Bringing Racial Equity to Homeless Response Systems
- Coordinated Entry Systems Racial Equity Analysis of Assessment Data (PDF)
- Morning Cup of Equity—podcast series
- Race Equity and Homelessness—podcast series
- Equity Initiatives
- Housing and Homelessness
Learn more about our expertise and training and technical assistance approaches and offerings.