Research Report Closing the Gaps: Building Black Wealth through Homeownership
Alanna McCargo, Jung Hyun Choi
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Homeownership is the primary contributor to wealth building for Black households and continues to hold promise for building multigenerational wealth and housing stability for households of color. However, wealth is not accruing equitably to Black homeowners due to a long history of structural barriers and added costs. Households with little to no wealth are far more vulnerable during economic cycles, and the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to widen racial homeownership and wealth gaps creating deep housing insecurity for households of color. This report reviews the critical role housing equity plays in building wealth for Black families, reviews the historical factors that have contributed to disparate outcomes, and explores ways to improve wealth equity through homeownership. The report closes with a discussion of how to promote policies that accelerate wealth accumulation and equity for households of color.

Research Areas Wealth and financial well-being Race and equity Housing finance Housing
Tags Federal housing programs and policies Asset and debts Racial and ethnic disparities Housing and the economy Credit availability Homeownership Financial products and services Wealth inequality Racial homeownership gap
Policy Centers Housing Finance Policy Center