The Olympia City Council passed a proclamation recognizing the city's commitment to joining the Black Home Initiative (BHI) network.
The proclamation, which was approved at a city council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, highlighted the historical context of housing discrimination, including redlining the restrictive covenants that prevented Black residents from purchasing homes.
It also noted the disparities that persist, with Black households in Thurston County having a homeownership rate of just 51% compared with 70% of white, non-Hispanic households.
To address these disparities, the Black Home Initiative was formed in 2021 to help 1,500 new Black, low-to-moderate income households become homeowners by 2028 and 3,000 by 2033.
Olympia has joined the regional network of over 100 partners, including nonprofit organizations, private companies and government entities, all working toward the shared mission.
Christa Lenssen, senior specialist for Olympia's housing program, provided an overview of BHI's work at the meeting.
She said that the initiative focuses on increasing the supply of affordable homes, supporting prospective Black homebuyers and advocating for policy changes to address systemic barriers.
"Due to a long-standing history of structural racism and anti-Black discrimination, Black households are less likely to own their own homes, providing fewer opportunities to build wealth and benefit from that intergenerational wealth building," Lenssen said.
To date, there are over 100 entities that have signed the partner pledged to be part of the network, including Thurston County partners.
Olympia City Council Proclaims Feb. 11 Black Home Initiative and Homeownership Equity Day
Photo credit: Courtesy of City of Olympia
These teams are part of organizations working in different areas, including increasing affordable housing supply, doing outreach to prospective home buyers and supporting the work through communications, policy and advocacy.
Lenssen highlighted some notable achievements from BHI, including:
The proclamation also acknowledged Olympia's efforts to identify housing disparities and develop strategies to increase homeownership.
This includes participating in creating a countywide assessment of fair housing and forming regional goals to increase homeownership for BIPOC residents in Thurston County.
"Olympia has decided to join the Black Home Initiative to strive to right the wrongs of past discriminatory practices … it commits to contribute to shared efforts to increase the supply of homes available purchase, support low to moderate income Black households who want to buy a home and overcome the existing fragmented housing ecosystem of public, private, and nonprofit organization," the proclamation states.
Click here to learn more about down payment assistance through the Covenant Home Ownership Program. For Black Home Initiative, click here. For information on Racial Restrictive Covenants Project, click here.
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RedskinPatriot
The fact that our government now picks winners and losers based on race is highly illegal!!! My tax dollars do not differentiate between skin color.
When the plans fail - planners plan.
Wednesday, February 12 Report this
Southsoundguy
This is so dumb.
Wednesday, February 12 Report this
Good intentions here for sure but programs based on immutable characteristics are as likely to stigmatize as to advance the interests of participants. Focusing on economic considerations without regard for tribal affiliation may have a greater chance for success.
Wednesday, February 12 Report this
JW
The mayor and city council at it again: taking city government and turning it into their own personal machine to pursue political and social pet projects.
Cities should be focused on roads, utilities, public safety etc not these distractions and wastes of taxpayer money. This is not the job of the city government. Go open a non-profit and have at it.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Snevets
Thank you to the city council for bringing this initiative forward.
The comments here highlight why our city has needed advocacy for policy changes to address systemic barriers.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
DarHitchens
City monies should be used for city projects, roads, parks, etc., not personal trendy projects that don't consider other people. Where do they get their statistics to make such sweeping proclamations? What about Native Americans or other financially "handicapped" people for whatever reason? Share equally from the fund or not at all.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
Field Order 15 Fund, which provides predevelopment grants and loans to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) for profit developers of affordable homeownership housing.
Buyer Readiness Fund, which grants up to $25,000 to prospective homebuyers to pay off mortgage-prohibiting debt. About $225,000 has been raised for the fund, with awards beginning in October 2024.
Covenant Homeownership Account and Program (CHAP), which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers of color who face structural racism that barred them from purchasing a home.
Black Homeownership Legacy Fund, which provides grants to BIPOC-led, community-based organizations who identify and support Black homebuyers, I don't see where it's written that TAX Monies would pay these costs, grants, it seems the Organization promoting this is raising these funds.
Sure alot of whining going on ..by the usual suspects here!
Thursday, February 13 Report this
burkemeister
If taxpayer money is being used to address "systemic barriers" in a way that people feel is unfair, ineffective, or ideological, it’s reasonable to question whether the approach is justified. In a democratic society, public funds should be allocated transparently and in ways that have broad support or at least open debate.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Southsoundguy
And here comes the usual suspects with their liberal clap trap about how I have to buy other people homes, but can’t catch a break for my family. Buy these people homes directly, with your own money.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
S.S.GUY.
Boo Hoo, its a Great Service.
You don't pay a thing! Show Us Otherwise!
Read the Article if you Can Read!
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Southsoundguy
"The proclamation also acknowledged Olympia's efforts to identify housing disparities and develop strategies to increase homeownership." They City is, at a minimum, expending time and effort on this subject. Therefore, it is spending tax dollars. Stop being obtuse.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
So in Short SSguy you'd rather NOT have Oly. Identify GROUPS of individuals that do not have, but Are Entilted to, being identified as not getting an equal chance of Home ownership.... sounds really Narrowminded.
It does fit MANY of your written views.
Why though, did that Group of people do Something Unworthy or are YOU a Very Judgemental person.
Thursday, February 13 Report this
RedskinPatriot
Hey BYD - the simple fact that our elected officials entertain these ideas means our tax dollars are paying for it. Regardless of the line item expenses- they are considering allocating efforts - plainly we should not fund this!
You are 100% wrong (they are allocating our money towards this crap) I am 100% right - my arguments cannot be broken!
Feelings Vs. facts always lose out!
Friday, February 14 Report this