The Racial Contract and white saviorism: centering racism’s role in undermining housing and education equity

ABSTRACT

Homelessness disproportionately impacts communities of color. The Racial Contract is employed to examine and understand the limited influence of educational, and social policies/practices that were developed to combat and/or ameliorate housing instability among students and communities of color experiencing homelessness. The White-Savior Industrial Complex is incorporated to account for the dispositions and/or approaches taken by many white teachers and human service professionals; specifically aiming to illuminate the ways in which many teachers and human service providers perceive, treat, and respond to students and families of color experiencing housing instability. To more appropriately address the racial inequities negatively impacting students, families and communities of color experiencing housing instability, a disruption or voiding of the Racial Contract via structural, curricular, and relational systems/social agreements are necessary.

KEYWORDS:

• Racial Contract
• Housing
• McKinney-Vento
• Racial justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The term housing instability is the authors preferred term and used where possible to expand notions and understandings of the traditional perspective regarding homelessness (often described as persons who reside in a shelter, abandoned building, car, on the street, etc.), whereas housing instability provides a broader understanding to include temporary housing (staying with friends/relatives, couch surfing, or frequent moves). The impact of housing instability on one’s physical, cognitive, and general well-being is the focal point as it shapes a student’s ability to remain focused and engaged in their educational pursuits. The terms homelessness, housing instability and housing insecure are used interchangeably to reflect the array of terms used in the literature.