Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: affordability loans

[Tree Bressen (tree]

Hi,

>> Has getting some outside financing to help make
>> some units more affordable made it possible to drawn in more individuals
>> or families of color?

Sharon wrote:
>I purposely removed the attribution from this quote. I know it was
>unintentional but to link affordability with skin color is a racist
>assumption.

Another way to interpret the remark would be as an acknowledgement that
racism which has been institutionalized in the US for centuries has
resulted in economic differences.  Links between ethnicity and wealth as
well as income are well documented.  I think acknowledging those
differences can be an important step to making changes.  If a cohousing
group says it wants people of color involved but isn't willing to make
affordability a priority, that may act as an invisible barrier.  

I'm glad to see this list being a place where writers can raise sensitive
issues, whether about race, mental illness, money, or whatever else.  

Peace,

--Tree



-----------------------------------------------

Tree Bressen
1680 Walnut St.
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 484-1156
tree [at] ic.org
http://www.treegroup.info
_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/cohousing-l