BIPOC Affordable Housing Project

The Washington State Legislature funded a Homeownership Disparities Work Group to evaluate issues and develop recommendations to improve disparities in homeownership rates for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) in Washington State. Leading the effort, the Department of Commerce recruited 32 members to the Work Group providing a variety of experiences and expertise in affordable homeownership, real estate, fair housing, mortgage lending, housing development, and the specific needs of BIPOC communities. ECONorthwest partnered with BDS Planning & Urban Design to facilitate this Work Group and produced a recommendations report to the Legislature on how it can improve homeownership opportunities for BIPOC households. ECONorthwest provided project oversight and direction, led the research and data analysis, and developed the recommendations report. BDS Planning & Urban Design led in facilitating the Work Group meetings and reaching an agreement on the recommendations. A key focus of the recommendations is how to increase the supply of affordable homeownership units; condominiums have been an important part of this discussion.