Monday, March 24, 2025

Abell Foundation Report Discovers Systematic Racial Bias in Home Appraisals in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area

 

A just-released report, authored by the Reinvestment Fund and funded by a grant from  the Abell Foundation, examined newly available public data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) to analyze potential racial bias in home appraisals in the Baltimore metropolitan area during 2013-2022. The report found that neighborhoods with larger non-white populations tend to have a higher percentage of homes with appraised values that are lower than the contract sale price than what is observed in predominantly white neighborhoods. Conversely, predominantly white, non-Hispanic neighborhoods tend to experience a higher percentage of homes with appraised values that exceed the contract price.

While these racial differences in appraisal accuracy have lessened somewhat in recent years, negative patterns are continuing. Analysis of the public appraisal data suggests the presence of systematic appraisal bias that undervalues homes in predominantly Black communities in Baltimore City and the surrounding counties. Key observations from the neighborhood level analysis are:

• Neighborhoods with a predominant percentage of residents who are not-white, not-Hispanic tend to have higher rates of under-appraising than neighborhoods that are predominantly white, not-Hispanic.

• Neighborhoods with a predominant percentage of residents who are not-white, not-Hispanic tend to have lower rates of over-appraising than areas that are predominantly white, not-Hispanic.

• Between 2018 and 2022, these patterns show signs of improvement, but they remain observable in the data.

It is important to consider that the available federal and local data are limited because a disproportionate share of appraisals regarding Black borrowers is excluded, meaning that any evidence it provides of racial bias in appraisals potentially understates the problem.

The report also provides a summary of policies Maryland could institute to reduce the impact of appraisal bias. Among the recommendations of the Maryland’s Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity in late 2024 were: (1) Institute a reconsideration of value process in Maryland modeled after one used by the Department of Veterans Affairs which allows lenders or other interested parties to provide relevant information to an appraiser before a valuation is made and requires appraisers to contact the requester of the appraisal for additional information in cases where the appraised value appears likely to be lower than the agreed sales price; (2) Require timely reporting of sales of newly constructed residential properties to ensure that the comparable sales appraisers use to determine value reflect changes in communities; (3) Create a unit within the state government to provide a third-party review in cases where the reconsideration of value process is insufficient; and (4) Remove barriers to entry to the appraisal profession for minorities.

One recent example of this problem is that in March 2024, a Black couple - both professors at Johns Hopkins University - who claimed mortgage lender loanDepot denied a refinancing of their mortgage because it relied upon a racially biased, considerably low appraisal of their Baltimore home agreed to a legal settlement in which the lender vowed to change how it handles complaints of racially biased appraisals. The settlement filed in the U.S. District Court for Maryland also includes an undisclosed financial amount for the couple. It does not include any admission of liability or facts by loanDepot nor does it resolve complaints against the independent appraiser, who has denied liability and countersued for defamation.

Read the March 25, 2025 Abell Foundation report.

Read the March 26, 2024 Insurance Journal article.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Historic Redlining in Syracuse Continues to Impact Public Schools

 

The recent executive order limiting DEIA within the U.S. has sparked conversations regarding the importance of diversity within public schools. This article considers Syracuse, New York, as an example. While Syracuse has a population one-fourth of Baltimore, it has many parallels. 

The city of Syracuse is one of the nation’s most racially segregated, most redlined, economically polarized, and poorest cities. Its Syracuse City School District (SCSD) remains highly segregated as a result of neighborhood borders drawn a century ago. The borders’ effects still surface in the school’s demographics. SCSD continues to feel the effects of segregation despite the formal outlawing of redlining in 1968 through the Fair Housing Act. New federal orders limiting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility have local educators concerned for the future of these efforts.

SCSD (30 schools and 19,000 students) has seen low standardized test scores in recent years, according to U.S. News and World Report. From 2020-2022, 16% of students in SCSD elementary schools tested at or above a proficient level for English, while only 11% were found to be at that same level for math. Comparatively, the more suburban and predominantly white Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District (FMCSD) had 73% of students at or above the proficiency level for English, and 77% for math.

Christopher Cleveland, an assistant professor of education and education policy at Brown University, has said the current President’s policies are impacting the politicization of school segregation. While the president has not publicly spoken against integration efforts specifically, he said the cuts to federal funding likely will not help the cause. “(Integration) has not necessarily been considered a DEI issue. “So I think the question is how broadly framed DEI’s criticism is supposed to be relative to practices that have been in existence for the past 60-ish years.”

Syracuse remains one of thein the nation. When redlined maps are lined up with current maps showing the racial demographics of SCSD schools, the images reflect each other. The city still demonstrates a racial divide in schools, Searing said. The Century Foundation has reported that about 93% of Syracuse school segregation is a result of past segregation between districts. Neighborhoods that received a “D” rating from the Federal Housing Administration typically contain lower-performing schools and a majority Black student body. This contrasts neighborhoods that received an “A” rating, whose schools typically enrolled wealthier, white students and saw higher academic performance.

“Segregation has been illegal since 1964, but segregation still exists because the processes that created these realities have been in action for much longer,” Robert Searing, curator of history at the Onondaga Historical Association commented. Segregation within school districts can also be traced to districts’ current catchment borders that outline school districts, frequently shaped to protect white neighborhoods and separate them from communities with more Black and Brown residents. 

Christine Ashby, director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion at Syracuse University said “In the redlined neighborhoods, students with disabilities, particularly students of color, were less likely to be included, less likely to be in general education, and more likely to have particular disability labels than kids in other neighborhoods.”

To be certain, in addition to redlining, white flight - more affluent and white people moving to suburban areas for improved education options - also has played and plays a large role in the segregation of SCSD.

“Restrictive racial covenants were outlawed by the Supreme Court in 1948, but they continued to be enforced, because, as with any law, the law is only as good as the enforcement mechanism,” Searing said. “Is redlining technically illegal? Sure it is, but the practices still continue.”

Read the March 21, 2025 Syracuse University The Daily Orange article.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Anne Arundel County Hate/Bias Reporting Forum is March 29th

 

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Wednesday, March 19, 2025

AACO Hate Bias Forum Flyer - Linked to Registration Page

Make a difference in our community!

Register for the Anne Arundel County Hate Bias Forum, a vital collaboration between the Maryland Commission on Civil RightsMaryland Attorney General's Office, the Anne Arundel County Office of Equity & Human Rights (Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Program), and community members. We'll be working together to improve hate bias reporting and education. Share your insights during open discussions and panels.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY

Anne Arundel Community College
Room Cade 219
101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012
Saturday, March 29, 2025
9:00am until 4:30pm
Breakfast & Lunch Provided

Questions? Please email mccr.outreach@maryland.gov for assistance.

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Civil Rights Coalition of Maryland to Hold Virtual Open Houses on April 4th and 17th

 

Civil Rights Coalition of MD Open House Flyer

REGISTER TODAY & JOIN MCCR'S VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Friday, April 4 at 1pm or
Thursday, April 17 at 1pm


In today's challenging times, it is important now more than ever that we come together in order to protect and promote our civil and human rights won in hard fought victories over many decades. For the benefit of all Marylanders, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights will be relaunching Civil Rights Coalition of Maryland.

Are you interested in learning more about the Civil Rights Coalition of Maryland and becoming a member? Please register and join MCCR at one of our virtual informational open houses!

Please note - membership on the Civil Rights Coalition of Maryland will be reserved for organizations, agencies, nonprofits, and other stakeholder groups that want to work collaboratively to advance civil rights for all Marylanders. Private individuals will not be given membership on the Coalition.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Baltimore City Women's Commission Women's History Month Luncheon is March 29th

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The Baltimore City Women’s Commission invites you to join us for a special luncheon in celebration of Women’s History Month! Under the theme "Moving Forward Together: Women Educating and Inspiring Generations," we will honor the remarkable women educators of Baltimore City who are making a profound difference in the lives of their students. This inspiring event will feature a keynote address from former Senator Jill P. Carter, a performance by international comedian and performer Ti Malik Coleman, and remarks from the Mayor and members of the Women’s Commission.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Tawes Ballroom, Coppin State University
📍 Address: 2500 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Register Here!
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7 E. Redwood Street Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone # 410-396-3141

Maryland Commission on Civil Rights to Hold "Conversations & Cinemas" on March 22nd

 

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Cultivating Conversations & Cinema Flyer

Join the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and Baltimore County Public Library as we celebrate Women's History Month by viewing Netflix’s SIX TRIPLE EIGHT, and enjoy a panel discussion featuring women veterans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the military provide both personal insights and actionable recommendations.

We will explore the the advancements made by women, for women and the future of women in the Armed Forces for the United States.

Baltimore County Public Library, Owings Mills Branch
10302 Grand Central Avenue
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Saturday, March 22, 2pm to 5pm

REGISTER TODAY

Question? Email MCCR's Education & Outreach Unit at mccr.outreach@maryland.gov for assistance!

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Monday, March 17, 2025

US Lacks 7.1 Million Affordable Homes - 77% of Low-Income Marylander Renters are Severely Cost-Burdened

 

The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes is published annually by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) highlighting the shortage of affordable homes for low-income renters throughout the nation. This year's report discovered a national shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households. There are only 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households nationwide.

The Gap report also investigates the affordability and availability of rental homes for households of different income levels nationwide and in every state and major metropolitan area. The supply of affordable rental housing for extremely low-income households remains deeply inadequate nationwide and in Maryland. The states with the highest percentages of "Extremely Low-Income Renter Households with Severe Cost Burden" were Nevada (86%), Florida (82%), Texas and Arizona (81%), and Oregon and the District of Columbia (80%).

Some 77% of extremely low-income renters in Maryland are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than 50% of their income on housing, with little left over for food, healthcare, or other basic necessities. That ranks Maryland ties for 9th with two other states. The Gap report found that there are 196,936 extremely low-income households in Maryland and just 35 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 of these households. 

Meanwhile, a new analysis from  Realtor.com has found that while new home construction picked up for the first time since 2016 in 2024, the housing gap totaling 3.8 million remains. The company measured the housing supply gap using data on new home construction, household formations and pent-up housing demand. The analysis found that more than 1.6 million homes were completed in 2024, the highest level in nearly 20 years. 

Read the March 13, 2025 NLIHC article.

Read the March 12, 2025 The Hill article.