Sonia Reed believed she had achieved the American dream. In December 2024, the Black grandmother and former homeless individual became a homeowner in San Leandro, California. But her triumph quickly turned into a nightmare when neighbors began harassing her with racial slurs and vandalizing her property. “I worked so hard to finally have a place to call my own, and now I have to fear for my safety in my own home,” Reed said. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating the incidents as hate crimes. For many, vandalism is part of an ongoing pattern where Black homeowners have faced some kind of discrimination.

Reed’s experience is far from isolated. Black Americans remain locked in a battle for homeownership, confronted by systemic inequities, economic challenges, and, in some cases, environmental disasters that threaten to strip them of generational wealth.

A new Urban Institute report revealed that Black homeownership rates remain far behind those of white Americans. Researchers said it’s a gap rooted in decades of discriminatory housing policies, redlining, and predatory lending practices. “Homeownership remains one of the most significant drivers of wealth, yet Black families face disproportionate barriers to achieving this milestone,” researchers wrote.

The crisis extends beyond acts of overt racism. In January 2025, devastating wildfires tore through Altadena, California, a historically Black community with a homeownership rate of 81.5 percent—far higher than the national average. Thousands of homes were reduced to ashes and rubble, leaving families displaced. Many now face the daunting task of rebuilding and the looming threat of gentrification. “Developers are circling like vultures,” said longtime Altadena resident James Carter.   

“We’re trying to rebuild, but the fear is that we won’t be able to afford to stay.” Economic barriers remain a defining struggle. Brooke Scott, a litigation assistant in Los Angeles, calculated that achieving homeownership and financial security requires an annual household income of $300,000—far beyond what many Black families can attain. Housing costs, healthcare, taxes, and child-rearing expenses leave little room for savings or investment. “The numbers just don’t add up,” Scott said.    “Even with two incomes, we’re barely able to put away anything for a down payment.”

The Urban Institute’s findings represent a clear picture of the obstacles Black homeowners face. Disparities in income, lending practices, and generational wealth accumulation continue to create barriers that make Black homeownership an increasingly difficult goal. While federal and local initiatives have sought to close the gap, the road ahead remains steep.

Without significant policy changes and investment in Black communities, the homeownership gap will persist for generations to come,” the Urban Institute report warns.

For Reed, Scott, and the residents of Altadena, the challenges of Black homeownership are deeply personal. Whether confronting racial harassment, economic hurdles, or the aftermath of natural disasters, their stories serve as a reminder that the fight for equity in housing is far from over. If these barriers persist, the promise of homeownership will remain an elusive dream for too many Black Americans.

“We just want what everyone else has—a fair shot at building a future,” Carter asserted.

The post Black homeownership faces systemic barriers despite progress appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Alex Stanton

Alex.Stanton@cincinnati-oh.gov

It’s time to take charge and build generational wealth for your family through homeownership. The City of Cincinnati and Union Savings Bank are holding a free workshop to discuss your path to homeownership, challenges to your goal, and resources available to overcome obstacles. We’ll talk about everything from building your credit, how the homeownership process works, how to work with real estate agents and banks, and how to get started.

WHEN: Saturday January 27, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

WHERE: Price Hill Recreation Center, 959 Hawthorne Ave., Cincinnati, 45205

COST: Free

Here are some of the topics and speakers: 

• How Important is Your Credit Score – Juanita Clarke Jackson

• Setting Great Financial Goals for a Great Future – Mike Kelly

• Managing Your Debt and Saving More – Joy Daniels

• Mortgages 101: The Basics – Lem Davis 

• Choosing a Real Estate Professional – The Realtists

• Preparing a Budget – Rick Williams, The Homeownership Center

• Downpayment Assistance & Other Resources – City of Cincinnati

Morning refreshments and afternoon lunch will be provided. “We’re going to educate participants on how to get on the path to homeownership, plus they can meet on site with Realtors, bankers, financial educators and others,” said Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. “Whether you’re just thinking about buying a home, or feel like it’s a far off dream, this is the workshop for you!”

To register, go to: https://forms.gle/WDLyZH7HkFWvdxRs6 or call Vice Mayor Kearney’s office at (513) 352-5205.

The post Sign up for the Taking Charge Homeownership Expo appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Yasmin Chilton

ychilton@cincinnatiport.org

In front of a standing room only crowd, The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority (The Port) and the Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association (GCRA) last week announced a historic partnership to increase homeownership in Hamilton County.

Leveraging inventory of The Port’s CARE Homes, a contract was completed providing a percentage of the rehabbed affordable houses to the Realtist Association to be marketed and sold to local buyers. The Cincinnati Realtists Association was founded decades ago by African American businessman Horace Sudduth when Blacks were precluded from joining the Cincinnati Realtors Association.

“When The Port set out on the mission to acquire this portfolio of 194 single-family homes, we did so well aware of the risks,” said Laura Brunner, The Port president and CEO. “But our vision of protecting local residents from the rising costs of rent, unwarranted threats of eviction and frequently ignored maintenance requests far outweighed the uncertainty of the acquisition.

“We’re improving quality of life in our neighborhoods. And we’re creating a pathway toward generational wealth, one of the primary benefits of owning real estate. Now, our partnership with the Realtist Association spreads our message and reach that homeownership is an achievable possibility for all.”

The goal of the CARE Homes portfolio is to make high-quality improvements to single family homes and make them affordably available to local buyers. The mission of the GCRA is to secure equal housing opportunities for all Hamilton County residents, regardless of race, creed or color. With the GCRA involved, The Port is optimistic both entities will succeed positively transforming homeownership rates in the community, especially as it pertains to minority and first-time prospective buyers.

“GCRA is extremely excited to be in partnership with The Port,” said Darrick Dansby, president of the Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association. “We view this partnership as an opportunity to dramatically increase the Black homeownership rate in Cincinnati. First time homebuyers are unable to compete in this low inventory market. This partnership allows our buyers a stronger chance at homeownership.”

At the news conference announcing the partnership, Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece lauded The Port and GCRA’s collaboration as historic.

“History has been made in Hamilton County with the announcement of a historic partnership between the Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association and The Port,” said Reece. “On April 12, my office organized the first-ever Government Day with the Greater Cincinnati Realtists at the County featuring a number of transformative workshops. That same day we passed our MBE/WBE and Small Business program. Today, the Realtists will now sell 25% of The Port’s CARE Homes creating more viable pathways to equitable homeownership.”

“The Realtists and the Port partnered with our office a few years ago to hold homeownership workshops in various parts of Cincinnati,” said Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. “Now, under Darrick Dansby’s leadership, the Realtists have continued the workshops. This partnership with the Port to sell the 194 affordable homes is a huge opportunity for families to build generational wealth. I am thrilled!”

Low inventory has negatively affected the housing market nationally, causing homes to close at prices well above their listing price. The sales prices of The Port’s CARE Homes are at or below market rate in all neighborhoods, something different than what residents and financial institutions are seeing throughout the country. That is why The Port is collaborating with Fifth Third Bank from an appraisal and mortgage loan perspective to ensure local lenders are aware what the CARE Homes portfolio is to better understand how they can support prospective buyers with their financial products.

“Our commitment to Empowering Black Futures is real,” said Nikki Bialka, VP, CRA development manager at Fifth Third Bank. “Just this week we announced that we have exceeded our initial 180 million commitment to nine neighborhoods that have historically suffered disinvestment, including Avondale.

“In just two years of the three-year commitment, we have invested more than $187 million across nine neighborhoods to support affordable housing, economic mobility, small business support, neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, financial access and more, and we are not done – we are extending our technical support through 2025 to ensure full implementation and sustainability. We understand the power in bringing together the community, housing counselors, developers like The Port and trusted real estate professionals like the Realtists to develop and deliver solutions that work at a local level for the people from the community.”  

To date, eight CARE homes have been listed with the Realtist Association, with three already under contract.

For more information about the CARE Homes program, contact housing@cincinnatiport.org. For information about working with the Realtist Association to purchase a home, contact president@greatercincinnatirealtistassociation.com

The post The Port and GCRA partner to increase homeownership in Hamilton County appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .