2023-636-E-Housing Dept-Habitat for Humanity-Outside Agency

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Program information P a g e 10 o f 25 County, state and national data and to create a local strategy to address systemic barriers to Black Homeownership. We are in the process of applying for grant funds to support this effort. We have taken inspiration from a model piloted by Habitat for Humanity of Greensboro and hope to collaborate with the North Carolina Housing Coalition for maximum impact. Also included in the strategic plan is a goal to create a formalized scoring system by which to prioritize Habitat’s advocacy and policy priorities, with racial equity impacts included as a priority consideration for how to focus our efforts. Orange Habitat is also part of a nation-wide collaborative of Habitat affiliates sharing resources and best practices with the goal to promote Black homeownership. Homeownership is a critical tool for build ing intergenerational wealth and stability. Black Americans continue to face significant barriers to homeownership due to the ongoing impact of racist policies such as redlining, compounded by entrenched discriminatory practices in housing and finance systems. The resulting gap in homeownership rates can be seen in our own community: in Orange County 67% of white households own their home compared to 44% of Black households. This racial gap in homeownership rates is a primary driver of the wealth gap in Ame rica, with white households holding a median net wealth 10 times greater than that of Black families ($171,000 vs. $17,600). As a result, Black parents have dramatically less wealth, assets, and economic security to pass on to their children, driving economic, educational, and housing disparities for the next generation. In Orange County, more than 150 Black-led households have partnered with Habitat to purchase their first home. Habitat homeowners in Orange County who identify as Black own a combined $14 million in equity, or an average of $116,000 per homeowner. 6. Please describe how you have involved the intended beneficiaries of the proposed project in the planning and design process (in 100 words or less). While the specific homeowners who will receive home repairs next year have not yet been identified, Habitat continually seeks feedback from previous clients, which is used to assess and improve the program. Surveys and conversations at the time of project completion provide valuable insights into the experiences and needs of program beneficiaries. Habitat also works closely with community-based organizations such as the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, the Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Association, and the Northside Compass Group to ensure that our programs are well-aligned with the goals and priorities of historically underserved neighborhoods where residents are at high risk of displacement due to rising costs. 7. Please fill in your agency demographics in the table below: Agency Demographics Staff Board Gender Men 16 7 Women 15 11 Nonbinary/Genderqueer 0 0 Self-Describe 2 0 Total 33 18 Race and Ethnicity Black or African-American 4 4 American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 Asian Indian 0 0 White 26 12 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 DocuSign Envelope ID: E44C92A1-0C4A-4EAB-9562-32C3B79C7494