In Milwaukee, Seattle, and Portland, tours are showing people how federal policies and laws created segregated housing and the black-white wealth gap that continues to this day. Creative solutions can be found. “Portland is also trying new policy: prospective first-time homebuyers who were displaced from their old neighborhood because of old urban renewal policies can apply for down payment assistance from the city’s housing bureau. The program also gives preference for new rent-subsidized apartments to people who previously lived in areas of the city affected by urban renewal. People whose homes were seized by eminent domain get priority. People who can show that their parent or grandparent also lived in the neighborhood go to the top of list.” For more information, click here.
