Homeownership rates in Washington State vary significantly by race. White homeownership rates are almost 20% higher than black, indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and, specifically, black households are homeowners at less than half the rate of white households. AWC supports a bill that intends to address this gap.

The implications of the lack of access to home ownership, including the generational wealth building opportunities that it provides, have wide ranging impacts. These disparities originate with the racist history of redlining, lending practices, zoning practices, and the proliferation of restrictive covenants that expressly prohibited selling properties in certain neighborhoods to people of color.

AWC supports companion bills HB 1474/SB 5496 (Rep. Jamila Taylor (D–Federal Way) and Sen. John Lovick (D–Mill Creek)) which tackle the implications of racially restrictive covenants. The bills provide for a new revenue source through a $100 fee on the recording of real estate documents with the county auditor to support down payment assistance and closing cost assistance for families and their descendants that were harmed by racially restrictive covenants.

A variety of studies and oversight committees are also established to provide program development and oversight.

Dates to remember

HB 1628 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, February 7 at 10:30 am.