Racial Disparities in Assets and Homeownership

© Mullica

Disparities in Minnesota continue to rise


The Minnesota Budget Project has reported that according to the American Community Survey (ACS) released by the U.S. Census Bureau last month, not only is poverty increasing in Minnesota, but disparities in poverty levels and household incomes between communities of color and whites are worsening. While the 2010 ACS reports that just under 12% of Minnesotans were living in poverty, the percentages according to race reveal a marked difference in poverty levels for communities of color--the highest being for American Indians which grew from approximately 31% in 2007 to just under 40% in 2010. Likewise, the median household incomes for Latino, black, and American Indian communities remain substantially lower than the statewide median household income for whites. Minnesota has historically suffered from racial disparities and, unfortunately, the latest reports do not hint towards the end of that plight. 


On a national level, Minnesota’s averages rank on the better end for overall poverty levels and median incomes. Again, though, when looking more specifically at communities of color, Minnesota’s ranking drops significantly. In fact, the poverty rate in Minnesota for Asians is just over 5 percentage points greater than the national average while for both blacks and American Indians the poverty rate sits as high as 10 percentage points greater than the national average. 


These racial disparities are all too often found in homeownership rates as well. 


In 2010, John Patterson and Michael Grover reported that the homeownership rate for emerging markets communities was more than 30% below the homeownership rate for whites - the 5th largest gap in homeownership rates in the country. Furthermore, the recent housing crisis has hit the emerging market community especially hard with mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures. While the homeownership gap appears to be narrowing, there is still a need to reach this population with homeownership education and opportunities.
In an effort to confront these issues in Minnesota, the Center leads the Emerging Markets Homeownership Initiative (EMHI) which works to develop systemic changes within the homeownership industry to increase homeownership opportunities for communities of color. Developing culturally-specific resources and services for emerging market consumers is a key component of this initiative. To learn more about EMHI events and resources offered by the Center, visit the EMHI page of our website, here.

FREE Continuing Education (CEUs) for real estate professionals!  
Learn more about the issues that Emerging Markets face and the efforts to achieve parity in homeownership rates in Minnesota at the FIFTH ANNUAL EMERGING MARKETS HOMEOWNERSHIP INITIATIVE SUMMIT.  Learn more about the Summit, and register, here.  The event has sold out in the past and we anticipate that it will sell out this year as well.  Register today.