As a young adult and a soon to be a young professional, I must decide where I want to live. My partner and I both value walkability, access to public transit, and a variety of entertainment options. We value diverse communities and the many benefits they foster tolerance, fair-mindedness, and less racial prejudice, to name a few. We also have a strong preference for more progressive social norms. These preferences limit our choices to major cities.

 

The most significant barrier to living in a major city is the cost of housing. Chances are, in order to find an affordable home to rent, we would have to explore options in neighborhoods that historically house low-income families of color. This brings up one more moving consideration: how my choices will contribution to gentrification. To understand the ongoing gentrification of US cities, it is important to understand the history of housing in the US.

 

During the first half semester of a class titled Social Issues in Urban and Regional Development, we have thoroughly discussed the history of urban development in the united states. With industrialization came the rapid, haphazard growth of cities. Sanitation and overcrowding were problems that hadn’t been solved at such a scale before.

 

Suburbanization is largely the result two factors: the affordable automobile and government housing policy. Having access to a car allowed a person to live outside of the city, where property was inexpensive, and commute into the city for work. Those who couldn’t afford a car had no choice but to remain in cities.

 

The establishment of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and its new standards for mortgages created a market where homeownership was less expensive than renting. This was advertised as a service for all, but people of color were mostly excluded. Discriminatory FHA loan terms lead to only 2% of minority families being approved for loans. Being denied access to a mortgage meant families had to stay within the city, denied of the financial stability and the generational wealth homeownership creates. These segregationist FHA policies allowed white families to find success outside of the city while forcing minority families to stay in the crowded city centers.

 

When Industrial jobs followed the suburbanites out of the city, opportunity for those who lived there decreased drastically. Over time the inner cities became increasingly impoverished and segregated. Low-income neighborhoods, that were previously unsegregated, were bulldozed to make room for segregated public housing blocks. These segregated communities allowed a greater ability to enact policy that directly harms black communities. 

 

Gentrification is the result of developing neighborhoods without consideration for the existing community. Large sums of money enter inner-city neighborhoods, but that money doesn’t help low-income communities. It benefits landlords, developers, and the new, wealthier residents. Some say the increased value of real estate benefits everyone in the community, but these low-income individuals are predominantly renters. Increase real estate value will only bring them higher rent.

 

In addition to financial stresses, victims of gentrification must endure being treated as outsiders in their own communities. New businesses will be aimed at serving the newer residents. This increased competition leads to longstanding businesses struggling and often closing their doors permanently. The increase of wealthy residents and businesses brings an increased police presence to communities. At best this increases the police harassment people of color endure within their own communities. More likely this will result in lost lives of black and brown people who have been in these communities far longer than the hands of gentrification.

 

Given this history of urban development and the current state of housing in the US, it is my responsibility to consider gentrification a factor of where I choose to live. More specifically my contribution to gentrification. If I move into a low-income urban neighborhood, I will be a part of the process that forces people out of their homes. My partner and I have both had access to higher education, allowing us access to higher paying jobs. Jobs unattainable to those with less privilege. We could likely afford higher rent than the people who have historically lived in that neighborhood, but should we pay them? If we do, the result will be an increase in rent throughout the neighborhood. There is no avoiding that, but it might be possible to mitigate some of the damages.

 

As a white woman and a potential gentrifier, I have the ability and responsibility to amplify the voices that are often ignored. This could take the form of advocating for lower rents, protecting those in danger of being priced out of their communities. It could be opposing unnecessary security measures meant to give white residents a sense of security at the cost of black lives. Deciding what issues are most important to address is not my place. Listening is.