'It furthers a period of segregation': Inside Project 2025’s Housing Policy

>>> >>> TODAY'S INSTALLMENT OF OUR DEEP DIVE INSIDE PROJECT 2025 FOCUSES ON HOUSING POLICY. THE FAR RIGHT PLAYBOOK FOR SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY PREDICTABLY TAKES AIM AT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE POOR AND LOW-WAGE FOLK, PEOPLE OF COLOR, FAMILIES THAT DON'T FIT THE TRADITIONAL TWO PARENT MODEL AND FARRANCE -- PARENTS OF MIXED LEGAL STATUS. YOU WILL FIND IT IN CHAPTER 15 WRITTEN UP BY BEN CARSON, FORMER SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. TO SING ON DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF THE FIRST LINES OF CHAPTER 15 ON PAGE 503 READS QUOTE, THE SECRETARY SHOULD INITIATE A HARD TASK FORCE CONSISTING OF POLITICALLY APPOINTED PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY AND REVERSE ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ADVANCE PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY. WHAT PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? PROJECT 2025 DEFINES PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY AS ANYTHING THAT INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT REFERS TO RACE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, GENDER, SEXUALITY OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. FIRST OFF IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED THIS SO- CALLED PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY IN HOUSING POLICY AT ALL. IN THE 1930s AS THE NATION WAS REELING FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM TO HELP STRUGGLING AMERICANS WITH THEIR MORTGAGES SO THAT THEY CAN AVOID FORECLOSURE. THE HOMEOWNERS LOAN CORPORATION SENTENCE PEOPLE OUT TO APPRAISE HOMES TO DETERMINE VALUE, AND SO-CALLED DETRIMENTAL FACTORS THAT WOULD INFORM WHICH HOME LENDERS WOULD WANT TO INSURE. AS IT TURNS OUT, TO LENDERS, BEING BLACK WAS A QUOTE, DETRIMENTAL EFFECT HER. INADEQUATE FEDERAL POLICIES MADE WAY FOR LENDERS TO READ RUTH TO ENSURE REMOTE BRIDGES IN OR NEAR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS. A PHENOMENON YOU KNOW WELL, KNOWN AS REDLINING. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT COALITION, THREE OUT OF EVERY FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WERE REDLINED IN THE 1930s ARE STILL OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME TODAY. ROUGHLY TWO OF EVERY THREE ARE PREDOMINANTLY POPULATED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE POLICIES OF THE 1930s PROVIDED SUBSIDIES FOR DEVELOPERS TO BUILD SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES AND SUBDIVISIONS WHILE ALLOWING THEM TO BE AVAILABLE ONLY TO WHITE PEOPLE. INEFFECTIVELY FORCED SEGREGATION, BLACK AMERICANS INTO HOUSING PROGRESS -- PROJECT AND STAGNATED INEQUALITY AND PREVENTED UPPER MOBILITY FOR NONWHITE PEOPLE. BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS UP AND TREATED AS SACRIFICE ZONES. FOR SINS, INTERSTATES AND HIGHWAYS AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES WERE SYSTEMATICALLY BUILT TO CUT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS OFF FROM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CENTERS, EXPOSING THEM TO HIRE ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLLUTION RISKS AT THE SAME TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO EDGE CLOSER TO EQUITY AND UNDO THE RACIST POLICIES OF THE PALACE -- OF THE PAST. PROJECT 2025 WANTS TO UNDO ALL OF THE PROGRESS. AMONG OTHER PROPOSALS, IT RECOMMENDS THE NEXT CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT QUOTE, IMMEDIATELY AND CUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PROPERTY APPRAISAL AND VALUATION EQUITY PAVE POLICIES AND REPEAL THE AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING REGULATION, REINSTITUTED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. NOW THESE POLICIES WERE DESIGNED BY THE BIDEN AND INITIATION SPECIFICALLY TO CHIP AWAY THE DECADES OF HOUSING INEQUALITY STILL AFFECTING COMMUNITIES TODAY, BY PREVENTING RACIAL BIAS IN HOME APPRAISALS, BY ACTIVELY UNDOING SEGREGATION AND ALLOWING LENDERS TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF OUR HISTORY OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. BUT PROJECT 2025 DOES NOT END THERE. PAGE 509 THE MANDATE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD QUOTE, PROHIBIT NONCITIZENS INCLUDING ALL MIXED STATUS FAMILIES FROM LIVING IN ALL FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING. WHICH MEANS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPOUSES OR PARENTS OR CHILDREN WHO ARE UNITED STATES CITIZENS, WILL FACE EVICTION. IN FACT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES 55,000 CHILDREN WOULD FACE EVICTION UNDER THIS PROPOSAL ALONE. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BY THE WAY, ALREADY TRIED TO DO THIS, THE FIRST TIME AROUND IN 2019. PROJECT 2025 PROPOSES STRICT TIME LIMITS ON PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENCY. IT WANTS TO SCRAP SO-CALLED HOUSING FIRST MODELS OF ASSISTANCE AND REPLACE THAT WITH MODELS THAT REQUIRE TREATMENT AND WORK IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR HOUSING. THIS IS AN AREA CLOSE TO MY HEART BECAUSE I WORKED IN. HOUSING FIRST MODELS HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVELY STUDIED. THEY ARE FOUND TO BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS THAN TREATMENT FIRST MODELS, WHICH OFTEN REQUIRE SOBRIETY, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND HAVE HIGHER RATES OF FAILURE AND RECIDIVISM. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM ADDICTION YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED HOUSING FIRST. ON PAGE 512 OF THE DOCUMENT, IT RECOMMENDS QUOTE, MAXIMAL FLEXIBILITY TO DIRECT THE PHA, PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY, AND SALES THAT INVOLVE EXISTING STOCK OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, CONGRESS MUST CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING MODEL, WHERE THEY CAN BE SOLD BY PHAS AND PUT TO GREATER ECONOMIC USE. THROW THE POOR PEOPLE OUT, WE CAN BUILD CONDOS OR FACTORIES. PROJECT 2025 RECOMMENDS THAT CONGRESS ALLOWED LAND CURRENTLY USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TO BE SOLD TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. PROJECT 2025 WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE NEW HOUSING SUPPLY FUND, WHICH SPECIFICALLY MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND FINALLY, LET'S ALSO MAKE IT HARDER FOR FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS TO REACH THE MILESTONE. THE MANDATE RECOMMENDS THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENT SHORTER TERMS FOR LOW INCOME FIRST-TIME WIRES. WE CAN GET 30 YEAR LOANS, SOMETIMES 40 YEAR LOANS THAT DIVIDES THE PAYMENT OVER A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 80 YEARS OLD BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR FIRST HOME. SHORTER MORTGAGE TERMS MAKE IT HARDER FOR HOMEOWNERS TO GET MORTGAGE INSURANCE. THIS, DESPITE THE FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR SHORTER MORTGAGES. >>> >>> BEFORE THE BREAK I TOLD YOU ABOUT PROJECT 2025'S PLAN TO CUT PROGRAMS AIMED AT HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE AMERICANS AMONG US. MORE ON THIS, THE PERSON I TALKED TO WHEN I WANT TO DISCUSS INEQUITY AND HOUSING, THAT DRAKE ANDRE PERRY, SENIOR FELLOW, -- AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK KNOW YOUR PRICE, VALUING BLACK LIVES AND PROPERTY IN AMERICA'S BLACK CITIES. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE TRIED TO DO THIS JUSTICE BUT IT'S GOT A LOT OF STUFF IN IT. WHAT IS THE MAIN TAKE AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND PROPOSALS AND PROJECT 2025 QUIT >> WELL THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF SOLUTIONS TO A HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE NEED TO INCREASE SUPPLY. THE POLICIES PROPOSED AND PROJECT 2025 ESSENTIALLY IS DOUBLE DOWN ON THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE OF SEGREGATION. IT REALLY ENCOURAGES SINGLE- FAMILY ZONING ORDINANCE DOES, IT PERPETUATES THE SMITH THAT IMMIGRANTS DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AND ARE A DRAG ON RESOURCES. IT ELIMINATES RULES THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE ENDING SEGREGATION, AND IT, THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, WE NEED TO ELIMINATE BIAS IN HOUSING MARKETS THAT LOWER HOME VALUES. SO THIS POLICY PROPOSAL OFFERED IN AN PROJECT 2025 REALLY DOES NOT OFFER SOLUTIONS TO OUR EXISTING HOUSING CRISIS, AND IT FURTHERS A PERIOD OF SEGREGATION THAT WE HAVE SEEN, SINCE OUR FOUNDING OF THE COUNTRY. >> IT IS INTERESTING, IT'S GOT A LOT OF STUFF IN HERE, NONE OF WHICH ARE ACTUAL SOLUTIONS TO CREATE WAREHOUSING. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY USED TO BE SOMETHING PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT AS AN ABSTRACTION, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE LIVING IN A PROJECT SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY I DON'T LIVE. IN 2024, HOUSING ABILITY, THE AFFORDABILITY IS ENTIRELY MAINSTREAM. MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS CANNOT AFFORD HOUSING. >> YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND THE REPUBLIC OVERALL, TALK ABOUT INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY. HOWEVER WE ARE LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TOOLS THAT WE CAN APPLY TO INCREASE IT. WE ACTUALLY NEED MORE FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN INCREASING THE SUPPLY. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY, WITH THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. NOW IT WILL REQUIRE COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES, BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY OF THAT. REMEMBER, WE INSTITUTED REDLINING AND A LOT OF FEDERALLY BACKED HOMEOWNER PROGRAMS, BUT IT WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVITY. FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUDING BLACK PEOPLE FROM INCREASING HOMEOWNERSHIP. AND SO WE HAVE A HISTORY OF THAT . WE JUST NEED TO DO IT FOR PURPOSES OF INCLUSION. MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME INTO HOMES. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED, THERE IS ANOTHER SUGGESTION ON 509 READS HUD SHOULD IMPLEMENT REFORMS -- ANTI-MARRIAGE BIAS IN HOUSING ASSISTANT PROGRAMS, STRENGTHENING WORK READINESS REQUIREMENTS, IMPLEMENT MAXIMUM TERM RESIDENCE -- LIMITS FOR RESIDENTS. STUFF THAT WILL PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT EXPAND THE STOCK. >> THERE IS STILL A LOT OF MYTH AROUND WHAT CAUSES OR THROTTLES ECONOMIC MOBILITY AMONG FOLKS, THAT THIS PROPOSAL SAYS PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING, THAT THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY LAZY, THAT SINGLE FAMILIES OR SINGLE MOTHERS ARE THE CAUSE OR ROOT CAUSE OF POVERTY. WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF POVERTY IS LACK OF INCOME, MIDDLE-CLASS INCOME, THE LACK OF LIVABLE WAGE. PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE RECORD LOWS AND UNEMPLOYMENT. PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING. PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WORKING GENERALLY CAN'T. AND SO THE MYTHS REALLY OFFER NO SOLUTION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, AND WE ACTUALLY NEED TO INCREASE THE SHARE OF BLACK AND BROWN HOMEOWNERS IN THIS COUNTRY, SO WE NEED MORE TOOLS IN ORDER TO DO THAT. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. ANDRE PERRY IS SENIOR FELLOW AT