Research on homelessness, racial equity during COVID presented at PSU-OHSU symposium

Researchers, practitioners and elected officials gathered virtually for Homelessness, Housing Insecurity, and Racial and Ethnic Equity during COVID-19, a research symposium hosted by PSU's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative and the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health last month. A recording of the symposium is now available online.

The national research symposium offered a range of perspectives informed by formal and completed research, works in progress, and stories from the field. It featured two keynote speakers, Dr. Margot Kushel and Dr. Rashida Crutchfield and three sessions on new research from around the country. 

Researchers discussed: 1) What have we learned about addressing homelessness and housing insecurity during the COVID-19 response, particularly for people of color; and 2) Given the profound uncertainty of what happens next, what should we be prepared for going forward to best support people of color experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity?

“We appreciate all of our speakers, our moderators, our participants and our team for making the research symposium a great success,” said HRAC Director Marisa Zapata. 

The day included three sessions in addition to the keynotes:

Session one: Insights in Transitional Housing and Shelter Panel Session and Q&A

• Equity in LAHSA’s Project Roomkey COVID-19 Response by Sandra Mukasa, Policy Research Coordinator, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
• The impact of hotels as non-congregate emergency shelters during COVID-19 by Dr. Rachel Fyall, Associate Professor, University of Washington, & Christina McHugh, Regional Housing and Homelessness Evaluation, King County Department of Community and Human Services

Session two: Upstream Factors in Housing Insecurity & Homelessness Panel Session and Q&A

• Small Apartments and the Housing Crisis in Kansas City, by Dr. Jacob Wagner, Director, Urban Studies, University of Missouri - Kansas City, & Erin Royals, Neighborhood Research and Outreach Coordinator, Center for Neighborhoods
• PSU Housing and Food Insecurity: COVID-19 Student Experiences by Dr. Katricia Stewart, Senior Policy Analyst, Homebase  / The Center for Common Concerns
• Vulnerable students’ food and housing insecurity risk amidst the pandemic by Dr. Olya Glantsman, Program Director, Community Psychology MS Program, DePaul University and Dr. Luciano Berardi, Director of TRIO Programs & Access Research, DePaul University
• The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Low-Income Tenants' Housing Security by Matt Fowle, PhD Candidate, University of Washington

Session three: Lessons from Unsheltered Outreach and Services Panel Session and Q&A

• Housing Outcomes for Homeless Individuals in Street Outreach Compared to Shelter by Dr. Christopher Weare, President, Center for Homeless Inquiries
• Results of Intensive Primary Care Interventions by Dr. Brian Chan, Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University
• Human Empowerment as Systems Change by Dr. Seth Pickens, Director, Realization Project, Economic Roundtable
• Street Roots Ambassador Program Overview by Raven Drake, Ambassador Program Manager, Street Roots

The event was made possible through the generous support of Richard Royse and Rocky Blumhagen.