Black Home Initiative being explored in Thurston County

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Efforts to close the racial wealth gap through homeownership could expand to Thurston County, as the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) evaluates the next steps in exploring the Black Home Initiative (BHI), a regional network addressing racial disparities in housing access. 

Launched in 2021, BHI aims to create 1,500 new Black, low- to moderate-income homeowners by 2027 in South King County, South Seattle and North Pierce counties.  

On Monday, Dec. 9, county housing officials expressed optimism about joining the initiative, which has already made significant progress in neighboring areas. 

A slide from the Black Home Initiative briefing highlights its goals, impact network, and progress, including helping establish the Covenant Homeownership Program in July.
A slide from the Black Home Initiative briefing highlights its goals, impact network, and progress, including helping establish the Covenant Homeownership Program in July.
JOLT STAFF PHOTO VIA ZOOM

Persistent gaps in homeownership rates 

Tom Webster, of the Office of Housing and Homeless Prevention, underscored the urgency of addressing racial housing inequities. 

“Due to a long-standing history of structural racism and anti-Black discrimination, Black households are less likely to own their homes,” Webster said. 

In Thurston County, Black households have a homeownership rate of 45%, compared with 69% for white households. 

“Approximately 42% of Black households in Washington State have zero net worth, compared to 14% of white households,” said Webster, adding that these disparities contribute to the racial wealth gap and hinder intergenerational wealth-building opportunities. 

According to BHI’s Network Partner Pledge, the organization works to address these inequities by making affordable homeownership more accessible and reinforce the need for big changes to outdated policies and practices that have caused these disparities. 

Local interest and engagement 

Interest in the BHI continues to grow among Thurston County stakeholders. 

“In the fall of 2023, at a statewide conference, several organizations in Thurston County heard about the initiative and reached out to learn more,”  Webster said.

“Since April of this year, we’ve been having meetings with interested local organizations, as well as representatives from BHI to learn more about the initiative and perhaps how we could become more involved,” he added. 

Christa Lenssen, Olympia’s Housing Program Specialist, noted that BHI includes over 100 partners in its impact network, which she discussed with the City Council on July as detailed in The JOLT News article. 

Local groups, such as Habitat for Humanity, Olympia Federal Savings and the Thurston County Realtors Association have expressed interest in BHI’s expansion. 

In September, groups sent a letter to BHI leadership requesting expansion into Thurston County, Webster said, adding that BHI responded positively. 

Webster also highlighted stakeholders actively engaged in early discussions, including “WSECU, Olympia Federal Savings, Habitat for Humanity, the Thurston Housing Land Trust, Northwest Cooperative Development Center, and staff from Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Yelm and the county.” 

Aligning policies and goals 

The BoCC inquired about the initiative’s compatibility with local policies. 

“We feel there’s a lot of overlap with the local housing action plans that Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater have developed around supporting the supply of affordable housing, funding homeownership activities and supporting cooperative ownership,” Webster explained. 

In addition to aligning with local housing action plans, Webster also pointed out that the initiative complements Thurston County’s comprehensive plan updates and the Regional Housing Council’s statewide advocacy efforts. 

Also, to address specific local challenges, Commissioner Wayne Fournier asked about barriers the initiative might target, referencing systemic issues, such as redlining. 

Mejia confirmed that redlining has impacted Thurston County residents. 

“When I first came on the board, it was one of the main things that helped us push the resolution through declaring racial equity a crisis,” she said, citing a 2021 effort by the auditor’s office to address restrictive covenants in property deeds. 

Nine Thurston County groups, including Habitat for Humanity and Olympia Federal Savings Bank, have joined the BHI pledge.
Nine Thurston County groups, including Habitat for Humanity and Olympia Federal Savings Bank, have joined the BHI pledge.
JOLT STAFF PHOTO VIA ZOOM

What joining BHI entails 

Meanwhile, Webster clarified that signing the BHI partner pledge does not require immediate financial or policy commitments. 

“By signing the partner pledge, there’s no specific commitment of resources or action,” Webster said. “BHI recognizes that partners may not be able to endorse every policy position that the initiative is exploring or taking. Endorsements for major policies happen on a case-by-case basis.” 

Participation, Webster added, could include “using our social media and other communication outlets to inform the public about the work of BHI” and encouraging county staff to join project teams. 

Commissioner Mejia highlighted its potential alignment with the county’s goals, saying, “It aligns very well with the board’s racial equity work, especially the resolution that we’ve passed, and it aligns with our housing goals as well.” 

Building on this support, Commissioner Emily Clouse expressed interest in the initiative. 

“Personally, I’m really interested in signing on,” she said. “I think it’s something that would be really beneficial to our community." 

Clouse asked about the initiative’s progress to date, and Lenssen reported that the New Covenant Homeownership Program, which launched in July, has assisted over 80 households in purchasing homes since its inception. However, she noted uncertainty regarding the overall progress of the broader initiative. 

Mejia suggested involving the Racial Equity Council. 

“Maybe they have suggestions that we hadn’t thought about, or they might be interested in helping pick up some of that work as well,” she said. 

There is no set deadline for a decision, Webster said, but he mentioned that associating the county’s name with the January or February announcement would be a viable option. He added that the timeline is flexible. 

BoCC supports further review 

The commissioners expressed support for further exploration of the program. 

Commissioner Tye Menser summarized the board’s position, saying, “The direction is to just keep getting something forward for consideration.” 

County Manager Leonard Hernandez assured the board that more detailed information would be presented.

“We’ll pull more detailed information together and provide attachments for the board in the coming weeks,” he said. 

Comments

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  • Snevets

    Thank you for sharing.

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this

  • Southsoundguy

    This is moronic.

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this

  • DesertMedic

    Wow, this is so stupid it seems fake. Continuing to try things like this just keep adding to the idea that racism is incredibly deep. Lets give people things that they could earn with hard work and all of the opportunities they have. DEI efforts have made it so much easier for blacks to obtain what was once difficult but still these opportunities are not taken advantage of.

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this

  • ViaLocal

    "Let's not fixate on the racial wealth gap - Let's focus on undoing its root causes."

    "While most of the black land loss appears on its face to have been through legal

    mechanisms—“the tax sale; the partition sale; and the foreclosure”—it mainly stemmed

    from illegal pressures, including discrimination in federal and state programs, swindles

    by lawyers and speculators, unlawful denials of private loans, and even outright acts

    of violence or intimidation. Discriminatory loan servicing and loan denial by whitecontrolled FmHA and ASCS committees forced black farmers into foreclosure, after which

    their property could be purchased by wealthy landowners, almost all of whom were white."

    https://rooseveltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RI_DontFixateRWG_Report_202001.pdf

    I'm glad to live in a region where people in charge aren't stuck in the mindset of, "It didn't happen to me or my family, so it must be commy nonsense." Better we own up to our mistakes as a nation and try to remedy them instead of saying, "The white majority wasn't affected, so why should we care?"

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this

  • SamLucy

    What percentage of Black households have black males present...?!?!?!? Do you not think, or are able to reduce--- that a two income earning household has TWICE the earning power to actually AFFORD a home!! > You fools are sooo PC that you can't look past your own fog!!! In the 1960's, 75% of all black households had a black male present, and today it's about 27%------- > STOP putting this on the narrative that it is a systemic beatdown as the reason!!!

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this

  • EntitlementRightsLLC

    Abolish Corporate Personhood:

    Corporate personhood grants businesses many of the same legal rights as individuals, often shielding executives and shareholders from full accountability. To ensure fairness and equity, we propose abolishing corporate personhood, placing responsibility directly on CEOs and shareholders for corporate actions. This reform ensures that those in charge are held accountable for their decisions, fostering a more transparent and responsible economic system.

    Ban Corporate Ownership of Residential Properties:

    To address the growing housing crisis, corporations should be prohibited from owning single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes. These types of properties are vital for families and individuals seeking affordable housing, and corporate ownership often drives up prices and reduces availability. By limiting ownership to individuals and families, we can prioritize housing as a basic human need over speculative investment.

    Seize Corporately Owned Residential Properties:

    For existing corporate-owned single-family, duplex, and triplex properties, the government should employ eminent domain to reclaim these homes for public benefit. Under this policy:

    **The government will provide fair compensation to corporations based on "fair market value."

    **Properties will be sold to qualified residents, prioritizing those who meet income and occupancy criteria, ensuring access to affordable housing.

    This approach balances constitutional obligations with the urgent need to address housing inequities, promoting long-term stability and community development.

    Conclusion:

    Reforming corporate practices in housing and eliminating corporate personhood are crucial steps toward a fairer society. These measures would shift focus from profit-driven ownership to sustainable, community-centered housing solutions, ensuring that families and individuals can access the homes they need.

    Thursday, December 12, 2024 Report this