Homelessness and discrimination among US adults: the role of intersectionality

Discrimination may contribute to experiencing homelessness. Additionally, individuals who occupy multiple marginalized statuses may be at particular risk. Identifying the relationship of discrimination and homelessness through an intersectional perspective may lead to improved health outcomes and better quality of life for vulnerable populations. Among our sample of US adult respondents (N = 34,366) from Wave 2 of the 2004-2005 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), those who reported discrimination had a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness compared to those who did not report discrimination, even after adjusting for additional sociodemographics and depression. Experiencing discrimination attributed to multiple characteristics was associated with an increased odds of homelessness. Among African American, Native American, and Latinx adults, the predicted probability of homelessness increased to a greater degree as the experiences of discrimination attributed to different characteristics, such as race/ethnicity, gender, and religion, also increased. Discrimination may be related to homelessness in various ways such as through limited housing, few education and employment opportunities, criminalized behaviors and unhealthy coping behaviors. The present study provides support for an intersectional perspective, which recognizes the role of systemic forms of oppression and the ways in which multiple systems of oppression overlap.