4 Podcasts That Will Help You Understand Housing Inequality in the U.S.

Housing inequalityis now a more timely topic than ever.Back in 2019,there were almost 6.5 million Black homeowners in the United States, putting the Black homeownership rate at 42 percent, as low as it was in the 1960s. Meanwhile, the rate of white homeownership was 73 percent, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

In 2020, the homeownership rate gap between Black and white households grew even further. The U.S. homeownership rate experienced the largest annual increase on record, climbing to 65.5 percent, up 1.3 percent from 2019. The Black homeownership rate increased to 43.3 percent, yet it is still lower than a decade ago, according to theNational Association of Realtors.

This gap is so significant that not even in the 100 cities with the largest Black populations is the Black homeownership rate close to the white homeownership rate — this includes places where Black households are the majority, like Albany, Georgia, according to theUrban Institute.

Housing inequality is one of the biggest contributing factors to the wealth gap that exists between white and Black families, as well as other communities of color, because homeownership is the principal way of creating generational wealth. As this gap continues to widen, it is important to be educated on the contributing factors to these issues, the people experiencing this inequity, and the misunderstandings that exist. Below, find four educational podcasts for folks wanting to learn more about housing justice.

由kq,一个非营利性公共媒体公司based in the Bay Area in California,SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America是一个播客详细的斗争吗housing inequality in California, the nation’s epicenter of the ongoing housing crisis. Episodes explore topics such as evictions and zoning policies, as well as the racism, inequity, and power structures that influence these issues. The program introduces the audience to the real people undergoing this battle for housing security and the people fighting for change. SOLD OUT is hosted by Erin Baldassari and Molly Solomon.

A podcast launched by WNYC and The Nation,There Goes The Neighborhood: Race & Gentrificationtakes an in-depth look at the gentrification of Brooklyn, as well as the role race plays in the process. Episodes detail the stories of people of color who were forced out of the communities they’ve lived for generations. The podcast is hosted by Kai Wright and also has editions created for Miami and Los Angeles.

We The Unhousedis a podcast that uplifts the voices of the unhoused in Los Angeles and beyond. Hosted by Theo Henderson, who is currently unhoused and lives in Chinatown, Los Angeles, the program covers issues impacting unhoused people such as police brutality, harassment, policy, and survival. Issues such as the cost of living, gentrification, health struggles, and solutions such as harm reduction and trauma-informed care are also discussed through a series of interviews.

The Opportunity Starts at Home podcasttakes a deep look at the connection between where you live and your ability to achieve the American Dream. The podcast is hosted by Mike Koprowski, the national director of theOpportunity Starts at Home, which is a multi-sector campaign to meet the rental housing needs of the nation’s low-income populations.