Thread by @MKushel

Thrilled to be listening to @nhannahjones & Marla Newman, Chair BOD @NLIHC on #RacialEquityAndCOVID from lens of housing/homelessness!

& @nhannahjones spelling out how control of housing was mechanism of social control in North (racial covenants, redlining)."You don't have to pass laws saying Black ppl couldn't go to school with White ppl if you control where they live--& create neighborhood schools"

Midwestern & Northern cities most segregated--not just housing, but also schools. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

"Fair Housing Act is Civil Rights Law of the North"--not passed until after 1968, after Rev Dr King assassinated. Resistance to passage of law foreshadowed hesitancy to enforce Fair Housing Act. #RacialEquityAndCOVID Lack of enforcement has continued since its inception.

Housing is lynchpin of opportunity @nhannahjones #RacialEquityAndCOVID @NLIHC

White ppl moved out of integrated neighborhoods through redlining. Inequality created w government policy--it has to be undone through govt policy #RacialEquityAndCOVID

How do you undo generations of disadvantage & racial hierarchy--if White ppl control levers of power & White Americans don't want to undo anti-Black racism/segregation? Unfair to ask Black ppl how do we get White ppl do what is just! #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Wealth gap even more detrimental than income gap--Black households have 10 cents of wealth for every $1 White Americans (Black families w kids--1 Cent for every 1$)--biggest generator of this is HOUSING. Post WWII--Fed Govt said only needed to put down 20% to buy home

But Fed policies kept Black Americans from buying homes. Black ppl left out of "generational affirmative action" of mortgage/housing policy. AND redlining artificially inflated values in White areas & ⬇️in Black areas. W Fair Housing Act--didn't equalize home values.

Black incomes about half that of White--but also had no way to accumulate wealth over time. During #COVID--w/o wealth--no cushion with economic shock (loss of income during COVID). More than 1/4 Black Americans have missed rent payment since COVID. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

If you are Black & lose your job--you can be homeless w/in 2 months--you have NO safety net. Manufactured disadvantage since chattel slavery. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

White person w HS degree than Black person w graduate degree--effects of generational wealth inequities. Only way to build wealth is to transfer wealth to Black communities. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Why do (White) Americans have a visceral rejection of the idea of repair? What would it look like?Targeted investment into Black neighborhoods/schools to make up for disenvestment.Vigorous enforcement civil right laws & individual cash payments @nhannahjones #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Black & Latinx ppl blamed for housing crisis in 2008--This is how racism works. Entire communities unbanked w/o access to capital were targetted--vulnerable communities made vulnerable by policies. #RacialEquityANDCOVID

Once face of social issue becomes Black person--society stops caring--we are seeing this w #COVID19. (and homelessness!). #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Most low income housing in this country for elderly White ppl--but once face becomes Black ppl, you get opposition. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Did we learn any lessons from 2008 that could inform how we move forward in #COVID housing crisis. @nhannahjones says: Alot did learn, but not the ppl who are in power.

Watch messages of personal responsibility--has been our default--language White supremacy. Lots of White Americans get hurt by these policies--White ppl willing to hurt their own interests if they think larger #s Black and Brown ppl will benefit. #RacialEquityAndCOVID

What has pandemic taught us about political will & social policies? @nhannahjones pandemic has exposed all the excuses why we can't afford social safety net etc as just that--excuses. Exposed idea of ppl undeserving of help--

circumstances outside your control can dictate whether you can pay the rent. "Can't put that genie back in the bottle." Many of these policies sunsetting now. Will there be retrenchment? The thing to do is call your congressppl--we have to pass programs to help fellow Americans.

Individual Americans can't forestall rent and eviction crisis--that is the role of government. There are things only govt can & should do. @nhannahjones #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Due to redlining/segregation--Housing hasn't been as good an investment for Black Americans. @nhannahjones why are discussions about reparations (when they happen) about everything other than $ --"freedom is being able to spend $ as you want." #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Most Black voucher holders have to use them in segregated communities, Fair Housing Act not enforced. Tension bw low-income housing $ Fair Housing. To house the most ppl, don't want to spend $ in affluent areas (or manage battles). #RacialEquityAndCOVID.

Need to resolve this tension--control at municipal level--of where low-income housing built to make allotment of housing more fair! #RacialEquityAndCOVID

Thank you @nhannahjones & @NLIHC for amazing discussion on #RacialEquityAndCOVID