Black leaders who’ve made an impact in ending homelessness
Even though Black or African-American individuals make up only 8% of the broader demographic of Los Angeles County, fully one-third of people experiencing homelessness represent that demographic. While homelessness is an issue that can affect anyone, it’s deeply intertwined with race issues, posing unique challenges for Black communities.
Commemorating Black History Month
We acknowledge the distinct experience Black communities face while surviving homelessness: generational trauma, racism, discrimination, and bias are all additional obstacles, on top of finding food and shelter. However, through this struggle, countless Black leaders have risen to advocate for their community.
Their activism, rooted in liberation and justice, is unique. It’s unique because of their power to advocate for their community. It’s unique because their passion, empathy, and courage have changed the way nonprofits and public entities lift up those who are experiencing homelessness toward sustained independence and liberation. Without their dedication and vision, the landscape of our work in aiding the unhoused would be fundamentally different.
Black leaders addressing homelessness in Los Angeles and beyond
Here are just a few of the many Black leaders who have made an impact in addressing homelessness. Many focus on issues like mental health and LGBTQ+ concerns that distinctly impact Black communities.
Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2006) was an author, journalist, and activist who worked in mental health. She focused on how mental health deeply impacted underserved groups, including Black communities, people of color, and those experiencing homelessness. As the co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Urban Los Angeles, Campbell assembled a task force in 2005 to make legislation that would implement a Mental Health Awareness Month. Though she passed away from brain cancer in 2006, her task force successfully designated July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008.
Dr. Joyce Ladner (1943—) is a prominent Black leader who has been a dedicated advocate for addressing poverty, homelessness, and mental health issues within African American communities. As a sociologist, her research specifically delved into the impact of poverty on Black women. President Bill Clinton later appointed her to the District of Columbia Financial Control Board. In this role, Dr. Ladner oversaw public schools, public health, and employment services in the District of Columbia. Her expertise has been leveraged as a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, a public policy research group. Dr. Ladner's research on urban affairs has played a crucial role in shaping policies to enhance city quality of life.
Jewel Thais-Williams (1939—) is a Los Angeles activist with deep involvement in creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, many of whom have experienced homelessness and mental health issues. In the late 1980s, during the AIDS crisis, Thais-Williams founded the Minority AIDS Project, which aimed at supporting Black and Hispanic communities impacted by the disease. She also co-founded Rue’s House, the first housing facility to house women of color with AIDS and their children.
Ted Hayes (1951—) is a homelessness, youth, and civil rights leader with longstanding activism in Los Angeles. He has had many initiatives and advocacy efforts to help empower those experiencing homelessness. In 1984, for example, Hayes organized a Tent City demonstration in LA, Justiceville, that drew attention to homelessness. This created media visibility for the growing issue and a self-empowering community for those experiencing homelessness.
Many additional Black leaders undoubtedly play or have played a significant role in addressing homelessness. We honor all of them, and we give thanks. Without them, we and countless other organizations working to address homelessness would not have the same tools, perspectives, and insights to support and lift up those experiencing homelessness and to do it with compassion and justice.
