Deadly disasters disproportionately affect underserved communities and people of color, reflecting decades of disinvestment and the climate impacts faced when compared to wealthier and non-redlined areas.

In this post, the author unpacks the racial inequities built into another tax provision that unfairly benefits white owners: the mortgage interest deduction (MID). Through an examination of its origins, uses, and value relative to costs, the following discussion shows how this seemingly race-neutral tax deduction actually exacerbates racial wealth and homeownership gaps.

Key takeaways from new research showing how recent regulatory reforms can help boost production of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) across the country.

Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris administration announced a set of actions intended to address racial bias in the home appraisal process. The announcement followed a two-year effort led by the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE), an inaugural task force comprised of 13 federal agencies and offices directed to evaluate the causes, extent, and consequences of appraisal bias, as well as establish recommendations to eliminate racial and ethnic bias from the home valuation process. The task force found that the legacies of past racist housing policies, along with industry practices that reinforce negative perceptions of neighborhoods with high concentrations of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color contributed to the under-valuation of homes in majority-BIPOC neighborhoods and the loss of billions of dollars in wealth for their owners.

The California Legislature has passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed critical affordable housing legislation from streamlining development to unlocking local resources to strengthening tenant protections.