Chris Shirley
cshirley@navigatehousing.com
Housing Equity continues to top to do lists for leaders in Washington, D.C. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted fair housing problems from the beginning. Millions rushed to sell homes, but owners of different races and ethnicities quickly found discrepancies in property appraisals. Most recently, a black couple from Northern California filed suit catching the attention of U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.
Secretary Fudge goes on to say stories like this are why HUD’s efforts to fight Appraisal Bias is so important. In addition to the enforcement of the fair housing law, Fudge says the agency is making appraisal requirements clear under the law. Anyone who believes they’ve experienced housing discrimination can report it here.
“Quality, affordable housing isn’t simply about shelter, it is also about the sense of community, opportunity, and security that comes with having a safe, stable place to live.”
Alfonso Costa, Jr. , Sara Karerat
Furthermore, a recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center underscores the importance of addressing Racial and Ethnic disparities in housing. Specifically, the report points to stable, affordable housing being crucial for well-being and economic opportunities.
The Authors of the Bipartisan Policy Center report also cites research that negative Housing Equity creates toxic stress and major developmental concerns for children under the age of five.
Housing Equity and Health Equity
Moreover, the same research shows medicaid recipients with access to affordable housing saw a 12% reduction in overall healthcare expenditures. Similarly, the research saw an 18% drop in emergency room visits and a 20% increase in the use of primary care services.
The research cited in these reports reinforces our work at Navigate underscoring the important of providing safe, quality, affordable housing. By acknowledging these disparities, we can more accurately address the needs of communities. This means ramping up the supply of quality, affordable homes like our work in Birmingham with Live on 1st. It also means improving relationships with tenants through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
