In a move to address racial equity and expand minority housing access in Shelby County, the Black Coalition for Housing (BCFH) will host a Leadership and Planning Retreat in Memphis from November 16 to November 20, 2024.
The retreat will gather community stakeholders, housing experts, and partners for targeted discussions aimed at dismantling housing disparities that disproportionately affect minority communities.
A planned tour of historically disinvested neighborhoods in Shelby County will provide participants firsthand insight to ensure the solutions proposed are deeply informed by local needs.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by the Shelby County Commissionโs Racial Equity Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Commissioner Edmund Ford, Jr. The committee, focused on identifying and addressing racial inequities, is tackling issues across five core areas:
- Affordable housing and homeownership
- Mental health
- Criminal justice reform
- Economic mobility
- Financial literacy.
As part of the committeeโs work, BCFH is leading the charge on the Affordable Housing and Homeownership pillar, which aims to increase African American access to affordable housing and improve homeownership rates.
The coalitionโs focus areas include combating discriminatory practices such as redlining, blockbusting, and racially restrictive covenants, and working to eliminate the biases that hinder African Americans from securing VA/FHA and THDA mortgages.
โBCFH is committed to establishing equitable access to housing for minority communities by addressing the systemic barriers that have denied generations the opportunity to own and build wealth through real estate,โ said Rasheedah Jones, Tennessee Managing Director of BCFH. โThis retreat, along with our ongoing efforts, aims to empower our communities to create sustainable and inclusive neighborhoods for future generations.โ
Momentum from the Black Developers Housing Summit
The retreat builds on the foundation laid by the Black Developers Housing Summit in March 2023, where more than 200 attendees gathered to address barriers faced by minority developers. Scheduled to return in March 2025, the next summit will concentrate on helping emerging developers and fostering community receivership initiatives, paving the way for housing projects that directly benefit underserved neighborhoods in Memphis and beyond.
Through these collective efforts, BCFH aims to contribute to a more equitable and prosperous Shelby County, empowering African American families and minority communities to achieve generational wealth through homeownership.
For more information about BCFHโs work or to become involved, contact info@blackcoalitionforhousing.com.
