Housing policies and practices can …

Violence in Housing Policies and Practices

Collective violence ^[40] (the act of groups who create policies or conditions to harm other groups) impacts some communities of people more than others. For example:

• Redlining is when a housing/mortgage lender denies loans to certain areas, mainly due to the racial makeup of the area. Redlining has a long history in the United States, mainly impacting people of color.^[1]
• Gentrification happens when a low-cost area becomes more expensive as wealthier people and businesses move in. This can force out people with lower incomes who can no longer afford to live there.^[2] This can also shift violence to other areas.

Redlining and gentrification can push people into housing that is lower quality or less safe. It can also reduce the amount of affordable housing available in the region, leading to more housing instability.

• Due to discrimination in jobs and housing, people who have been in prison are nearly 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general population.^[3]
• Historically, policies have created large, concentrated public housing areas. Some are designated as public housing permanently. This has resulted in these areas being short on mental health and substance abuse services, increasing the risk of violence.

To help address this issue, some people advocate for policies that promote economic growth for families. These include programs like Earned Income Tax Credit, Individual Development Accounts, first-time home-buyer programs, and educational opportunities. Some areas, like Four Corners in Dorchester, Massachusetts, have introduced combined housing/commercial developments.^[4] to reverse the effects of collective violence in housing.