How does the legacy of racial covenants impact housing equity and even fire recovery?

 

Host Curtis Chang welcomes Jasmin Shupper, visionary founder and CEO of Greenline Housing Foundation, to explore how racial injustice magnifies the impact of natural disasters. Together, they dive into the devastating effects of the LA fires—particularly the Eaton Fire in Altadena—where Black homeowners have faced disproportionate losses due to historical practices like redlining and racially restrictive covenants. Jasmin shares how her mission to close the racial wealth gap and prevent mass displacement offers a path toward real estate justice, resilience, and renewal. She also reflects on her personal journey from Chicago’s South Side to leading national efforts for housing equity and disaster recovery.

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Remembering the subprime mortgage crisis
• 40 Acres and a Mule (video)
• Pasadena Community Foundation: the Altadena Builds Back Foundation
• Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law
• Richard Rothstein on Fresh Air: How The U.S. Government Segregated America
• Stanford uses AI to find: Racially Restrictive Covenants 
• Redlining in real estate: How discriminatory practices still affect Black communities

 

Aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena:

• All Altadena Land Owners Impacted by Eaton Fire Have Turned in Right of Entry Forms
• Looting Fuels 250% Crime Surge in Fire-Devastated Altadena
• These theater kids rise from the ashes of the Eaton fire

 

More from Jasmin Shupper & Greenline Housing:

• Learn More about Greenline Housing Foundation
• Greenline’s work with Eaton Fire victims: https://greenlinehousing.org/eaton-fire/
• PBS features Greenline's work after the wildfires
• LAist features Greenline's development work to keep Altadena diverse
• CBS News features Greenline and real estate after the Eaton Fire

 

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