University News

WIU to Host Discussion on Latine Homelessness and Structural Inequality in Illinois

September 30, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University will host state officials, researchers, community advocates and local stakeholders at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, for a discussion of the newly released report, Latine Homelessness in Illinois: Structural Drivers of Inequality in the Multicultural Center.

The report is a collaborative effort of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH), housed within the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

"This research, and the testimony of people with lived experience, helps us pave the path toward a state where no one faces long-term homelessness," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said during a presentation of the report in May.

The report draws in part on insights from the Racial Equity Roundtable on Latine Homelessness, a statewide group of agencies that support people experiencing homelessness. The roundtable assisted the research team in conducting listening sessions, interviews and focus groups with service providers and Latine individuals who had experienced or were experiencing homelessness.
Julia Albarracin, a faculty member in WIU's Department of Political Science, participated as a member of the Racial Equity Roundtable.

"Much of the public conversation about homelessness focuses on individual responsibility and personal choice. This report outlines how structural factors, such as a lack of affordable housing, part-time labor without a living wage, access to health insurance, and immigration status, often push Latine residents in Illinois towards homelessness," said Iván Arenas, senior associate director for Community Partnerships at UIC's Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy.
The event will feature a panel of experts, including a representative from OPEH and a local support agency.

Panelists will discuss findings from the report and examine structural factors associated with racial and ethnic disparities in Latine homelessness, including access to affordable housing, employment and health care.

A community member will also share his personal experience with housing insecurity, providing a firsthand perspective on the challenges faced by individuals experiencing housing instability.

The event is sponsored by the WIU Department of Political Science, Multicultural Center, College of Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Education, and Amplify.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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