Today’s Topic: Housing
In Des Moines, the consequences of redlining (tomorrow’s topic) and the wealth gap created by it are still being felt today in regards to housing.
Option #1: Read & Reflect: Home ownership is the traditional means of building economic wealth. However, disparities in home ownership and rental statistics suggest systemic obstacles are in place for Black home ownership in Polk County. While more than two-thirds of all Polk County residents are homeowners, less than one-third of the Black population in Polk County own their homes.
The median value of single-family homes in minority census tracts is $95,600, while the median value of homes in all of Polk County is $165,500.
53.3 percent of African Americans are cost-burdened renters in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. These are renters who pay more than 30 percent of their income towards rent.
Average rent for a 967 ft. apartment in Ankeny is $1074.
In Ankeny, the number of people of color is slowly increasing. How do you feel about this?
Does it concern you? Why or why not?
Option #2:
“Racial justice cannot be separated from economic justice.”
Sit quietly with this quote for a minute or two. What thoughts are stirred up by it?
Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Why?
Families: Discuss the questions below.
What does Jesus mean when he said to love your neighbor as yourself?
Who are our neighbors?
How do you love your neighbor as yourself?
Why should we love our neighbors?
Should the color of our skin or where we were born affect where we live?
Additional Resources:
‘The First’, or ‘The Only’ Being Black in Small-Town Iowa by Iowa Public Radio
Unequal Access to Banking and Loans Works Against Black Business Owners by Iowa Public Radio
Report: Latinos in Iowa City are four times more likely to be rejected for home loans than whites by Little Village.com