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Day 5: Housing Inequities in Your Backyard.
Now that we’ve looked at the racist housing policies that have affected many Americans, let's take a closer look at how these policies have changed the landscape of our own city. Together we will learn about the history of discriminatory housing practices in our city and explore what can be done to change the future of housing in Cleveland.
Racist policies in the early 1900s pushed many African Americans into “slums, high population areas that required families to sublet their housing, which contributed to a rapid decay of the structures.” Check out this resource from the Cleveland Public Library that provides a brief history of Cleveland’s Legacy of Housing Discrimination during the Great Migration.
Take a look at the effect of these racist policies by studying the redlining maps of Cuyahoga county drawn up in the 1930s. This resource compares the original redlining maps with the current census counts and is evidence of the long lasting effects of the discriminatory redlining practices in Cleveland.
While redlining remains a discriminatory part of our history in Cleveland, we are making steps as a city to repair the mistakes of the past. Watch this video to learn more about how CMSD intentionally designed the school of choice model to counter the effects of redlining. Check out how this home builder in Cleveland is fueling previously red-lined neighborhoods with resources. Lastly, take a look at a new proposition that aims to ban housing voucher discrimination in Cleveland.
After you engage with the challenge materials on the history of redlining and housing inequality in Cleveland, share something you LOVE about your neighborhood or community. You can share your responses with us @LWScienceHealth on Instagram.
Want to dive deeper into the material? Links to all materials can be found at tinyurl.com/LWSHChallenge.
All Instagram participants will receive a special gift via USPS mail.
