Racial inequality is at the root of and continues to perpetuate housing injustice across communities. Criminal records screening disproportionately harms people of color, especially Black renters, including because of stark racial disparities that exist in the United States legal system due to over-policing and systemic bias. Black women face much higher rates of eviction than others, and the scarlet “E” on their records locks them out of better housing — along with the better schools and jobs that often accompany it. White people remain much more likely than their Black peers to be homeowners, even after accounting for factors like location and education.