Breaking Down Systemic Inequality in Voting and Housing for Black Americans
For generations, state and local governments systematically denied Black...
Housing and racial equity are inextricably linked.
Minnesota has some of the widest racial disparities in the nation—in education, health, economics, criminal justice, and especially housing. And all of them can be tied back to discriminatory housing practices used throughout the 20th century. As a community, we need to be as intentional in closing these disparities as we were in creating them.
At Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, racial equity and anti-racism are embedded in our mission, vision, and values and we’re proud that about 80% of our homebuyer clients are households of color.
We also recognize that the scars of racism in banking and social services are deep, and Habitat’s good intentions have not been enough. Throughout 2023, we are working hard to better serve Foundational Black Americans—those who are descendants of enslaved Africans. We aim to transform into an equity organization, build trust with the Black community, and deliver a program that is relevant for more households, especially those who've historically been shut out of homeownership through redlining, racial covenants, and systemic racism.
It’s on all of us to build an equitable community where every family can thrive. Together, we strive toward the day when Black Lives Matter is reflected not only in our protest signs, but in all the systems and values that drive our community.
Our Race & Housing blog series below explores the history of how racist housing policies were created, why our disparities persist, and what we can learn from stories of resistance. And in 2023, you’ll start to read more articles on specific actions you can take to build racial equity in the Twin Cities. We hope you’ll join us.
For generations, state and local governments systematically denied Black...
Black families in Minnesota face unique challenges when trying to buy a...
Twin Cities Habitat believes it’s important to learn from our national and...
Twin Cities Habitat believes it’s important to learn from our national and...
Advancing racial equity is a cornerstone of Twin Cities Habitat for...
Renting and owning a home is very different. When you rent an apartment or...
Minnesota and the Twin Cities regularly rank highly on quality of life...
Most people don’t think much about the intersection of racism and the home...
Realtors can play a critical part in reducing the racial disparities in...
Guest Blog by Shoreé Ingram, Director of Equity and Inclusion
There is an...
You may know that the Twin Cities often sits near the top of many quality...
This blog has been updated to include information about a recent Twin...
From the outside, buying a home can sometimes look easier than it is. In...
Guest Blog by Mike Robertson, A Brush with Kindness Program Manager
Twin...
Racial equity and anti-racism are embedded in our mission, vision, and...
This blog is part of our Race & Housing series. Click here to learn more...
You might hear the term “affordable housing” used often, whether in the...
It was a conversation we'll never forget. Last week, at our Women of...
After George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police on May 25, protests...
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has a core value of Equity and Inclusion...
For centuries, people of color in the United States have been...
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has a core value of Equity and Inclusion...
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has a core value of Equity and Inclusion...
We continue to process the pain and hope of our nation’s uprising for...
Many Americans get help buying their first home. In fact, nearly one-third of first-time homebuyers get gifts from family or friends to help with their down payment, and White homebuyers are twice as likely as Black homebuyers to get family help for a down payment (source: Shapiro, Thomas M. Toxic Inequality, 2017).
Habitat for Humanity provides that boost for first-time homebuyers. This lays the foundation for better health and education outcomes, higher quality of life, and generations of wealth building.
At Twin Cities Habitat, we know we need to do better, and continually strive for racial equity in all aspects of our work. Here are just a few of the ways our staff and board have and are taking action now:
You can expect more updates from us on these and other initiatives.
We'll continue to add action steps as we learn more throughout the Race and Housing blog series. Here are a few ways you can take action now:
Check out these additional resources for a deeper dive into the topics above.
Watch this short video from National Public Radio called "Housing Segregation and Redlining in America: A Short History." In under seven minutes, the video breaks down how discrimination in housing policy had rippled into so many areas of life, especially in cities. Warning: there is one instance of profanity in the first few seconds.
More excellent videos you should check out: