Jenna Louie’s Post

The vision of creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all is truly taking shape at HUD, especially for Black Americans. Under Secretary Marcia L. Fudge's guidance: •HUD is breaking down systemic barriers to homeownership. •Around a quarter of a million Black homeowners have been supported in purchasing homes with FHA mortgages in the last three years. •More than 160,000 Black homeowners have been helped to avoid foreclosure and keep their homes since the pandemic started. •Investments have been made in Black-owned small businesses and developers. •HUD's commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities continues to grow. These steps are just the beginning of ensuring equity, access, and opportunity in housing for the Black community. Let's celebrate the progress and continue to support initiatives that uplift everyone. #HUD #AffordableHousing #InclusiveCommunities #BlackHomeownership

As part of #BlackHistoryMonth we want to help shed light on how estate planning, or lack thereof, can affect black people in America. ‘We are in a state of emergency.’ More than 70% of Black Americans don’t have a will. Here’s why a plan is key

Many articles discussing the subject of reparations that I've come across are often emotionally compelling and charged, and rightfully so. It's absolutely necessary to acknowledge the harsh and atrocious history that has led us to this point, but I also believe it's equally important to envision a future that can evolve from the past and current injustices in a way where we use those things as opportunities to do better. Through this piece, I wanted to establish a space that not only recognizes the pains of the past but also explores the potential for powerful economic revitalization by righting wrongs through policy and strategies. In this thought provoking article, I discuss the possibilities of positive outcomes through the creation of uniquely tailored reparative programs designed to support Black communities and residents. As always, I look forward to everyone’s comments and feedback. #Forbes #ForbesBLK https://lnkd.in/gJZwWD_i

As we wrap up Black History Month, it is important to understand how the history of affordable housing has played an essential role in the complex history of Black Americans.  Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g2fETUwD

This guy is a true professional.

When it comes to reparations, I remember someone saying to me once, "Well, if you can prove specific harm, if someone could prove something waz actually taken, then of course they could be compensated for that, especially if the government took it." Well, these people are a hundred and some years old, and we're able to prove specific harm, but still no reparations. We think all these things happened a long time ago, but these people are still alive. We're barely a generation out of "slavery by another name" aka Jim Crow and still no reparations. They can show the harm. They can show how the government, specifically the state of Oklahoma, intervened, as well as the federal government, to take their property, lives, and future economic opportunities, and nothing. Crickets..It is the same with the post-World War II GI Bill. Black veterans were systematically denied usage of the housing portion of that bill, even though there was nothing in the law that prevented it. Nobody would give them a mortgage, which meant Black Americans—1.2 million soldiers—lost out on the biggest economic boom in U.S. history. But still, no reparations. It’s clear governmental intervention and state and local collusion to prevent economic advancement. People have gotten reparations for September 11th, internment, and from drug companies, but we cannot get reparations even when we can show the actual harm done. If you want to know more about this, you should read Baker’s new book about the land that occurred and how land was stolen from Black Americans in this country. #reparations #civilrights #landtheft https://lnkd.in/gxsGH5pA

Do you know what percentage of Atlantans own their own homes? In Atlanta, the journey toward equitable housing continues as we confront the disparities faced by Black residents. At FCS, we’re committed to breaking these barriers and fostering a community where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing. Learn more about housing disparities in Atlanta. Read more on WABE: https://lnkd.in/d-pT6_Xa 

“The Black community is under attack in so many different ways.” - KiKi Layne Black Displacement is just one means of attacking thriving groups of Black Americans and subsequently their communities. As Americans recently revisit the decimation of the Greenwood District of Tulsa, aka Black Wall Street, now is the time to recognize other Black communities lost to violence and illegal activity: all concerted efforts to remove Black citizens. In the 1940s, the Central Albina neighborhood in North Portland, Oregon was a bustling hub for the city’s Black-owned businesses. Between 1971 and 1973, the Portland Development Commission (now called Portland Prosper) demolished an estimated 188 properties – 158 of which were residential and 30 of which were commercial. Those properties were inhabited by approximately 88 families, 83 individuals, 23 businesses, nine rental businesses, and four church or community organizations. Of the 171 reported forcibly displaced households, 74% were Black, many of whom owned their homes free and clear. Central Albina was deemed “blighted”, and thus it was no loss to remove its residents. Except Central Albina wasn’t actually blighted. Just in the way. The city displaced hundreds of residents in the majority Black neighborhood to make way for Interstate 5. “What I find most devastating (is) all of my childhood memories have been wiped out, all the historical places I went to are gone. If I wanted to take my daughter to places that I grew up in and say, ‘I used to do this or that,’ I can’t do that. “My history has been erased.” - Donna Maxey, formerly of Central Albina, Portland, Oregon Unlawful eminent domain within Black communities causes loss of family homes, inheritance, generational success, community and opportunity. During an August 1, 2017 press conference, City of Portland, Executive Director of Prosper Portland, and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Emanuel Hospital acknowledged racist policies were responsible for the demolition and ultimate destruction of Central Albina. It was determined in December 2023 that a federal lawsuit accusing the city of Portland, Emanuel Legacy Hospital, and Prosper Portland of conspiring to destroy a previously thriving Black neighborhood could move forward. #blackhistorymonth | #blackhistorymonth2024 | #blackownedbusinesses February 5, 2024

Protecting black homeownership is critical to closing the racial wealth gap. "This Juneteenth is an opportunity for members of Congress to take a crucial step toward reducing the racial wealth gap in the United States by supporting the Heirs’ Estate Inheritance Resolution and Succession (HEIRS) Act," wrote Dione Joseph, JD, NTP, OLTP. #icymi #Juneteenth #realestate #homes #insurance