The surge in housing prices that began in 2020 has resulted in a housing crisis; a study from Redfin indicates that 80% of the homes for sale in the US are outside of the typical buyer’s budget. Census Bureau data reveal that half of renters pay more than 30% of their household income, the threshold that HUD uses to determine whether housing is affordable. There are racial disparities inherent in the system that have contributed to a nearly 30 percentage point homeownership gap between White and Black. This course examines the reasons for housing unaffordability and the legacy of socially unjust policies and legal rulings from the past that have resulted in unequal access to housing in the modern era. May be used toward the African and African American Studies minor and the Social Justice and Activism minor through the Course Substitution process. Prerequisite: ECON 1101 or 1102. Credit hours: 4. Prerequisite: ECON 1101 or 1102. May be repeated for credit when topic differs.
- Teacher: John Abell