2022 Black Well-being Final w links for Web 11.29.22 - Flipbook - Page 45
BLACK WELL-BEING REPORT 2022
“It appears African
Americans enter
homelessness with
higher incomes and
lower rates of mental
illness, drug addiction,
and other health
problems than white
people. It seems like
folks of color who
are experiencing
homelessness are
generally better off
by almost every
indicator than their
white counterparts. It’s
almost as if more has
to go wrong in a white
person’s life for them to
become homeless.” 126
— Marc Dones,
Director of the Regional
Homelessness Authority
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
The impact of structural violence
Often when we think of violence, we think about direct violent actions like domestic violence. What became
clear to many during the mid- to late-2020s following the murder of George Floyd is that entire social
systems in the U.S., like the legal system, have been and continue to be violent toward Black people. The
continued murders of Black and brown people across the nation, including Black and brown trans people
and detained individuals, have had profound impacts on our health and well-being.
“It is extremely hard for the advocates doing this work to show up each day when they see their
communities being harmed and killed,” said Washington domestic violence advocate.118
Structural violence undermines our basic sense of safety, greatly impacting our mental health. “According
to the U.S. Census Household Pulse data, in the week following Floyd’s death, depression and anxiety
severity increased among Black Americans at significantly higher rates than that of white Americans.”119
Yet, as of 2020, Black people represented only 4% of the psychology workforce, making it difficult for us to
talk to someone who personally understands our racialized experiences.120
Structural violence doesn’t have a single perpetrator. It shows up as harms caused by the social
arrangements of our society (e.g., education, transportation, housing, and government systems). It results in
group-wide harm to health and well-being and shows up as racism, ableism, sexism, and other abuses of
social power.
A focus on creating social systems that heal and restore is the single most important contributing factor to
public safety.121
Housing and housing stability contribute to healthier people and communities
When people are housing unstable they are subject to trauma, disruption in education and
employment, and disconnection from people who can support them.122 It costs so much more —
financially, psychologically, and emotionally — to be unhoused or face housing instability.123 To afford
a 2-bedroom apartment without being cost burdened (more than 30% of income), you would need to
make $61,000 per year on average across the state, which is more than the median income of Black
Washingtonians.124 In addition, there are not enough affordable units on the market in Washington.125
When people are deciding between healthy housing, food, and health care needs, they are no
longer experiencing safety. Turning to one another for help often means turning to others who are
also struggling to make ends meet. And, in these conditions, every human being is more likely to
experience stress and be impacted by or turn to crimes of survival. Once someone is incarcerated,
they are seven times more likely to experience homelessness — 13 times more likely if they are
incarcerated more than once.127
“I want every
neighborhood to be
like the most affluent
neighborhood you live
near that has very
low policing. Everyone
has jobs. Every child
has an education.
Everyone has health
care. You don’t see
folks going to jail from
those communities
because they’ve been
invested in the ways
that we know make a
difference.” 129
— Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley
(37th L.D.)
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