This factsheet analyzes the relationship between racial injustice and homelessness in the United States, showing how systemic racism in housing access, wealth accumulation, credit practices, education, healthcare, and employment has led to disproportionate rates of homelessness among Black communities, and how public divestment in housing and criminal justice responses have reinforced these disparities. It documents the rise in laws criminalizing life-sustaining activities in public spaces, and provides data illustrating how these measures disproportionately target Black people and exacerbate racial disparities in homelessness. It concludes with recommendations encouraging cities to replace punitive approaches with Housing First strategies, trauma-informed shelters, and crisis response teams with mental-health and harm-reduction expertise, and to strengthen outreach efforts and fair-housing enforcement to address the racial drivers of homelessness.