How Native Americans are Overrepresented in the Homeless Community

Native Americans make up a small percentage of the population in the United States, but they’re at high risk of being homeless. There are several reasons why this is so, including higher rates of poverty and addiction. The American Indian community faces an especially large challenge because it has fewer affordable housing units than there were 30 years ago.

• Native Americans make up 1.7% of the population in the U.S. but 12% of the homeless population.
• The Native American population is small compared to other groups: they comprise just 0.5% of all people living on tribal lands (that’s less than one-tenth).
• But while it may seem like a small number, there are many more Native Americans who aren’t counted as part of this statistic because they don’t identify with their tribe or have never lived outside reservation land—and those who do live off-reservation often lack access to resources like housing and health care services that help them stay safe from violence and abuse.

The American Indian population faces high rates of poverty and unemployment, which can contribute to higher rates of homelessness.

The American Indian population has a poverty rate that is 27% higher than any other racial group in the United States, and Native Americans have an unemployment rate that’s nearly double that of white Americans (9.7% versus 4.3%).

The Native American population is more likely to be homeless than other racial groups. The number of affordable housing units in the U.S. has decreased over the last 30 years, and Native Americans are less likely to have access to affordable housing than other racial groups.

Conclusion

The American Indian population faces high rates of poverty and unemployment, which can contribute to higher rates of homelessness and homeless substance abuse. Native Americans face discrimination in the housing market, which contributes to their homelessness. There are fewer affordable housing units for the Native American population than there were 30 years ago. In Alaska, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives make up a larger percentage of the homeless population because of cultural factors such as alcoholism.