In a memorandum, the President acknowledged the federal government's role in patterns of segregation and disinvestment that continue to affect communities of color across the country.
President Biden's acknowledgement of the federal government's central role in "creating and perpetuating today’s patterns of racial segregation, neighborhood disinvestment, housing insecurity, and racial wealth gaps" takes an important step toward advancing racial equality in housing. Biden's recent actions recognize that "facing the facts about our history is a necessary step toward long-overdue healing and provides the foundation for urgently needed policy changes," write Margery Austin Turner, Solomon Greene, and Martha M. Galvez, for the Urban Institute.
The authors list six Institute recommendations for the federal government that could help achieve the goals set out by the new President. The recommendations cover a range of federal programs that, if strengthened, would advance Biden's stated goals, including:
- "vigorously enforce" mandates to restore resources and opportunities in historically disinvested areas
- expand neighborhood choice by enhancing the housing voucher program and eliminating voucher discrimination
- reduce barriers to housing production such as exclusionary zoning policies
- collect and share disaggregated data
- "reaffirm and enforce the disparate impact standard," which acknowledges unintentional discrimination in systemic policies
- close the racial wealth gap through homeownership and home equity initiatives for people of color.
If the administration can follow through with effective initiatives, recognizing the legacy of inequality in federal housing policy and a commitment to change will be "welcome first steps" in redressing past injustices.
Read the full story: Facing the Facts About Housing Injustice Will Help Pave the Way to Racial Equity
LGBTQ+ Elders Face Compounded Challenges in Accessing Fair and Equitable Housing
Lessons for building affirming, inclusive, and trauma-informed housing developments for older LGBTQ+ adults.
White House Announces Policies Aimed at Protecting Renters
The administration acknowledges its limited powers in solving the nation’s housing affordability crisis, but says new actions will examine unfair rental practices and recommend policies to state and local governments.
Housing Vouchers Prove an Effective Tool Against Homelessness
The Biden administration plans to expand the federal housing voucher program, which currently provides rental assistance to 2.3 million U.S. households.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority