INEQUITY REVEALED

 HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HEALTHY LIVING GAPS ONCE IDENTIFIED BY ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE PROVEN THROUGH FINE-GRADE DATA

Redlining became official United States policy under the National Housing Act of 1934 and the concurrent creation of the Federal Housing Administration. 

In this era of rampant racial segregation and discrimination against minority populations, cities were mapped and areas considered the most risky for mortgages were outlined in red.

Though the majority of residents within the redlined areas were white, the worst economic impact of redlining – which also made it difficult to insure or sell a home within those boundaries – fell on people of color. 

Between 1945 and 1959, African Americans received less than two percent of all federally insured home loans, as documented by several late 20^th and early 21^st century researchers.