Where Systems Meet People: Closing the Engagement Gap for Latino People Experiencing Homelessness

Latino homelessness in the United States is increasing at a rapid pace: homelessness among Latino people increased by 89% from 2019 to 2024, in contrast to a 36% increase in overall homelessness during the same period. Los Angeles, California, is among several communities across the country grappling with this disproportionate rise.

This trend is particularly concerning given the research that shows Latino households often underutilize available services and benefits, such as housing assistance, mental health services, and nutrition and food benefits. Many factors contribute to lower engagement with services in Latino communities, including cultural stigma, fear of immigration enforcement, and language barriers. As Latino homelessness in Los Angeles grows, access to key entry points for services such as street outreach and shelters becomes more critical. Without it, people cannot connect to the supports they need to exit homelessness.

In 2023, the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) began working with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to support them in better connecting Latino people experiencing homelessness with services. The GPL surveyed and interviewed front-line staff to identify the barriers that Latino people experiencing homelessness encounter in accessing services and resources.

This research surfaced significant barriers, but it also highlighted the following two promising strategies shaped by front-line staff experience:

1. Integrate cultural responsiveness into service delivery
2. Use language that invites engagement.

Read the Publication

Drawing on these insights, the GPL developed two tools that leaders in homelessness systems can use as starting points to improve access to system resources among Latino communities:

Tool 1: Training and Resource Guide for Culturally Responsive Service Engagement

(PowerPoint presentation)

Download Tool 1

Tool 2: Spanish Glossary for Accessible and Inviting Service Delivery

(Excel spreadsheet)

Download Tool 2