This brief explores the Black-White homeownership gap in Philadelphia and underscores the need to address the long-standing, unique challenges that Black homeowners face.
Homeownership has long been viewed as one of the effective ways to build long-term wealth. Yet historically, Black Americans have not had the same access to that opportunity.
The brief's main findings include:
The Black-White homeownership gap in Philadelphia is smaller than in the U.S. overall, but little progress has been made in closing it over the last 30 years; meanwhile, Black homeownership has been declining.
Lack of access to mortgage credit remains a key barrier to narrowing the White-Black homeownership gap in the city.
Additional efforts are needed to address the historical and structural barriers to homeownership in neighborhoods with concentrated Black populations.
