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Day 4: Systemic Inequality in Housing.
Today, we look at the history of systematic inequality in housing across the US. We will explore how people of color were intentionally and systematically kept from certain neighborhoods and were forced out of their neighborhoods to “make room” for the predominantly white suburban developments. Today’s activities will provide a background and a look into the history of unfair housing practices in the US in preparation for tomorrow’s activity, which will look at the housing inequities in Cleveland, Ohio.
In the 1930s, after the Great Depression, the government signed the Homeowners’ Loan Act and the National Housing Act into law to prevent foreclosures and to provide affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for Americans. Part of this process involved redlining, the process of labeling neighborhoods with varying levels of risk, partly based on an area’s racial composition. Check out this article to learn more about how redlining discriminated against neighborhoods occupied by people of color.
Neighborhoods once identified as higher risk are now significantly hotter than other neighborhoods.
Listen to this NPR podcast to learn more about how “the racist housing practices from the 1930s can be linked to hotter neighborhoods today.”
Though this process began nearly 90 years ago, the effects are still evident today. Read more about housing discrimination and learn about how to take action if you or someone in your community is subject to discriminatory practices.
After you engage with the challenge materials on the history of redlining and housing inequality in the US, share an example of how you feel redlining has affected a neighborhood near you. 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.
