America Needs More Supportive Housing Programs For Black Women

Housing programs and initiatives designed just for Black women can improve their security and stability.

A recent study found that Black women are twice as likely to be evicted from their homes than White women.

Factors such as being at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder play a role in this, according to USA Today.

The Black Women Build program based in Baltimore, Maryland is successfully helping Black women to renovate homes and subsequently move into them.

But Black women across the whole of the U.S. need programs like this to improve their housing opportunities.

Skills Booster

The Black Women Build program teaches Black women carpentry, plumbing, and electrical skills.

These skills are invaluable to Black women. They are skills that these women will use for life and they can help reduce repair and maintenance costs in the future.

Black women can also take up a career that allows them to use these skills. The program manager for Black Women Build believes that this gives these women the chance to earn two to three times more than they would in a typical female-based job.

As many Black women in America are earning less than they should, these skill-based housing programs could benefit millions if they were introduced elsewhere.

Makes houses more affordable

Black women make an average of $779 per week compared to the $929 weekly income that white women earn. This lower income puts them at greater risk of not being able to afford their home.

The Black Women Build program makes it easier and more affordable for Black women to own their own homes. A minimum down payment of just $2,500 is needed. This is much lower than the $10,000 to $15,000 average Americans usually put down.

The properties sell for less, too. Black Women Build says that their first inventory sold for $85,000 each. The median listing in Baltimore in April 2022 for a standard home was $210,000.

There’s also the potential for the homes in these programs to form part of a Homeowners Association (HOA).

These are popular in Florida and California, so programs in these states would work well. HOAs usually provide shared amenities for residents to use.

They’ll take responsibility for community repairs, maintenance, and landscaping which helps to keep the value of the homes stable.

Team Building & Support

Renovating and building a home takes patience and support. The Black women who take part in the Black Women Build program work closely together, alongside the founder of the non-profit organization Shelley Halstead.

A recent survey found that Black women are more likely to feel lonely compared to the general population.

If there were more housing initiatives and programs across the U.S. for black women to utilize they’d all have more help and support in their personal lives.

It’s clear to see that the Black Women Build program is hugely successful and can really benefit Black women in various aspects of their lives.

It would be great to see more housing programs like this in other states to help Black women get on the property ladder and build security.