Housing Cooperatives to Community Land Trusts: Exploring Community Wealth Building Strategies for Black Homeownership

Abstract

The issues of Black homeownership and racial inequality in Minnesota are abysmal. The homeownership gap between Black and white communities continues to increase. This stems from a long history of policies enacted by the U.S. government and has impacted Black homeownership and wealth attainment. The Great Recession and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the economic and housing markets at high rates. At each turn, Black people were and continue to be some of the most vulnerable because policies and programs such as the New Deal, the G.I. Bill, and more that have produced lasting impacts, often felt throughout generations. This paper explores the homeownership gap in the U.S. with a direct focus on the Twin Cities. Adequate housing for all people is a human right. The data gathered in this paper indicates that Black households in Minnesota consistently hold lower rates of homeownership before and after the Great Recession. This paper also dives into the Community Wealth Building strategies of housing cooperatives and community land trusts as alternative housing models that offer affordable and sustainable ownership while building collective communities. Centering community and valued-based strategies give the power back to the community to have opportunities for ownership and wealth. Organizations, philanthropy, local and state governments must uplift the community wealth-building strategies and offer the chance to build generational wealth.