Housing Inequality in the Bay Area, California

Housing in the Bay Area has become significantly competitive in recent years. The residual effects of redlining have made it difficult for marginalized communities to accumulate wealth, contributing to the cycle of poverty in particularly Black and Latino neighborhoods and ultimately preventing them from moving out of underfunded neighborhoods. The technology boom and rising rent costs have effectively pushed out low income and minority communities, further displacing them in a process known as gentrification. These compounded factors result in housing discrimination and in the Bay Area this is predominantly by means of displacement and proximity to toxic plants.

History, Statistics, and Organizations

Industrialization and environmental segregation dating back to the early 1900s, has caused housing to be segregated based off of income, leaving people of poverty near these hazardous site and unstable living environments. An example of this racial phenomenon includes African Americans escaping 1877 Jim Crow traditions of the South, where they were deemed “separate, but equal” and were forced into racially segregated residential areas, of which had low access to resources and opportunities, such as education, healthy food, stable jobs, transportation, and of course, safe housing.

Environmental racism, the discrimination of low income, racially misrepresented communities, and structural racism, the exclusion of minority groups societal/political institutions, are the foundations driving the displacement, lack of mobility, and health defects of people of color from the hazardous chemicals and land degradation that industrialization has caused throughout the years. Physical impacts, including political structures, industrialization practices, and housing regulations, give way to profound impacts of social outcomes, such as environmental degradation, and physical and mental health issues.

North Richmond is an unincorporated community in the county of Contra Costa.

The Bay Area consist of nine counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, Costra Costa, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, and Marin. According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the Bay Area alone accumulated 7.15 million people, with the genetic makeup of 52.5% White (including white Hispanic) and 47.5% people of color.

Housing Status

Unincorporated Communities are a result of racial segregation. For the Bay Area, the suggestions of producing unincorporated communities stemmed from the violence that came from the income migrations of people from the South.  In the 1950s, large waves of Southern whites and blacks came to Bay Area seeking jobs from industrial firms.  Their southern ideology between the two race fuel tension and violence, leading the counties to establish separated communities with the cities, ultimately causing intentional segregation.

Unincorporated Communities are selective regions within city lines that are not governed by local or self-government, but ruled and regulated by larger administration of the county. Unincorporated communities have separate law and regulations from other neighboring communities. These communities differ in housing cost/rent, property tax, police/fire service, medical care, recreational services, retire plan, sewer network, and school selection.

Counties with unincorporated communities total to 58 counties in California, and out of 58, 9 out of 9 countries in the Bay Area have communities that are unincorporated.

California Bay Area county map

Alameda County

The data received from the 2015 United States Census states that Alameda County accumulated  of 32.5% White, 11.8% Black/African American, 29.5% Asian, 0.8% Native, 22.6% Hispanic/Latino race and 2.8% Mixed. Additional, the survey collected on housing, determined 52.7% of owners owning homes, while 47.3% of the population in Alameda County payed rent.

The Housing Authority

The Housing Authority is federal rental housing assistance, which assistance people under the  Section 8 program. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program was an act that passed in 1937 as means of assisting disadvantaged and low-income communities with housing rental services.  The Housing Authority of Berkeley, was established in 1966, entitles renters with benefits such electricity discounts and billing assistance.  Tenants are required to pay 40% of their monthly paychecks, once they are selected from the lottery of Section 8 recipients.

Contra Costa County

The 2015 United State Census Bureau classify Contra Costa County population as 45.0% White, 9.6% Black/African American, 16.8% Asian, 0.6% Native, 25.3% Latino/Hispanic race and 2.7% Mixed race. The data collected for the 2011-2015 housing status, Contra Costa County has a rate of 64.4% owning homes, while 35.6% Rental Rate.

Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)

Often referenced to ACCE Action, this grassroots organization is located in District 3 in Oakland, CA.  This community based organization protects and fights for regulations and programs aiding in housing justice, worker justice, and supports school and community service developments.

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE)

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is an environmental justice, nonprofit organization in communities of low income and minority group. Stationed in Richmond and East Oakland, CBE worked alongside Justa Causa in Oakland to pass Measure JJ. Measure JJ is an Oakland Protection Rental measure passed in November 8, 2016 with a 75% acceptance vote.

Justa Causa

Justa Causa is a multi-racial grassroots organization fighting for low-income residents of San Francisco and Oakland. With over 30 years of experience, Justa Causa unites black and brown communities by voicing and fighting for rights, such as rental protection, clinic tenant rights, youth power, immigration reform, and black priority.

Measure JJ, also known as the Renter Protection Act of 2016 required (1) landlords to petition any rent increase with the Rental Board, only if the rent exceeds the Consumer Price Index, (2) expand cutoff buildings from October 1860 to 1995 through Just Cause eviction protection rights, and (3) increases the responsibility of the Rental Board and the Rent Adjustment Program to establish a "searchable data base" which instigated tenant protection rights. Later, the measure included (4) an annual renter increase report and (5) exemption of owned- occupied duplexes and triplexes.

Marin County

During the 2015 United States Census Bureau, Marin County consist of 85.8% White, 2.9% Black/African American, 6.2% Asian, 16.0% Hispanic/Latino race. Moreover the percentage house-owners are at 62.4% to 37.6% Rental houses in Marin County.

Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPA)

Beginning in 1979, Non-Profit Housing Association  advocate for affording housing by partnering with over 750 housing developers.  Through donations and sponsor, NPA aids to establish housing projects in low-income and diverse communities.

No other non-profit protecting housing and rental organization where located in Marin County.

Napa County

Stated by the 2015 United States Census Bureau, Napa County grouped of 53.3% White, 2.4% Black/African American, 8.3% Asian, 0.4% Native, 33.9% Hispanic/Latino race and 1.7% Mixed. In terms of housing, Napa Country has a percentage of 60.0% home-owners and 40.0% renters.

The Housing & Intergovernmental Affair (HIA) Division

The state and county government site which displays the country’s housing documents and rental regulations.  The HIA provides access for the Housing Authority of Napa County which multi-county housing program for low income and discriminated tenants.

Fair Housing Napa Valley

Fair Housing Napa Valley is a privately owned 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation striving for development equality and and reducing racial discrimination on housing.

San Francisco County

The 2015 United States Census Bureau, categorized San Francisco population as 41.0% White, 5.7% Black/African American, 35.3% Asian, 0.5% Native descent, 15.3% Hispanic/Latino race, and 2.2% Mixed. The 2011-2015 housing records determined a percentage of 36.4% home-ownership and 63.6% Rental.

Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPA)

See Marin County.

San Mateo

The data collected by the 2015 United States Census Bureau, San Mateo County is 39.9% White, 2.9% Black/African American, 28.3% Asians, 1.6% Native, 25.1% Hispanic/Latino, 6.9% Mixed descent. Owner-housing percentage is at a 59.1% and rental falls short at 40.9%.

HIP Housing

Since 1970s, HIP Housing has helped people with disabilities, disabled, and low-income resident obtain affordable housing in San Mateo County. Under three programs: Self- independent, home sharing, and affordable housing development.

Santa Clara County

The compile records obtained by the 2015 United States Census Bureau, provide the population in Santa Clara County as 32.8% White, 2.9% Black/African American, 35.6% Asians, 0.5% Native, 26.3% Latino/Hispanic and 1.9% Mixed ethnicity. The ownership percentage from the 2011-2015 statistic, was 56.8% house-owners and 43.2% rental.

Project Sentinel

A non-profit with the goal of establishing homes available for families at a disadvantage at wealth. Project Sentinel, produce mortgage workshops and how to flip a home. This organization is more practice targeting housing discrimination and priority to medication seniors.

Solano County

Solano County, concede through the 2015 United States Census, determine the population of being 39.1% White, 14.8% Black/African American, 15.7% Asian, 1.0% Native, 26.0% Hispanic/Latino descent and 3.4% Mixed ethnicity. House-ownership is at 59.9% and rental statistics is at 40.1%.

Community Housing Opportunities (CHOC)

The CHOC organization strives for the establishment of housing for low-income families in Solano County. While the housing development is high output, many of the housing are affordable to people; much of the buildings are eco-friendly. CHOC also come equip with its own services such as water and energy.

Sonoma County

The Sonoma County is accumulated of 64.3% White, 2.0% Black/African American, 4.4% Asian, 0.4% Native, 26.3% Hispanic/Latino and 2.6% Mixed race, according to the 2015 United States Census Bureau. Furthermore, the ownership percentage in Sonoma County was at 59.4% home-owned and 40.6% rental.

Burbank Housing Development Corp.

A non-profit organization that develops houses for low-income and disadvantage families. The developments allow families take part in a secluded community for family and seniors can enjoy.

Presence of Toxic Plants

Hazardous waste sites have a substantial presence in East Bay cities. Most notably are the Chevron Richmond refinery in Richmond, CA, Tesoro refinery, Exxon refinery and Shell refinery both in Martinez, CA and Valero refinery in Benicia, CA. These sites are all contributors to poor air quality, releasing harmful particulates in to the air. These particulates, combined with other pollutants, have negative health effects on surrounding communities, putting residents at great risk of asthma, cancer and premature death. Communities of color are especially at risk, with approximately 89% of non-whites in the East Bay's Refinery Corridor living within the 3,000 ft perimeter of toxic plants. Because these communities tend to have little resources and often do not have a political voice, toxic refineries and oil companies can often be found around these already dispossessed neighborhoods.

A side by side visual of the concentration of minority communities and poverty in Richmond, CA

Income and Toxic Plants

Income and race are closely linked and income impacts whether families are or are not able to move into neighborhoods with clean air and less pollution. Rising rent costs have pushed low-income families to move into neighborhoods with refineries in their backyards. In North Richmond, where the Chevron refinery is located, 83% of residents are people of color and 65% of people of color live below the poverty line. The median income sits at $36,875 compared to the rest of the city whose average is $54,012 and Contra Costa county whose median is $78,385. The disparities are especially prevalent in the East Bay's Refinery Corridor.

East Bay's Refinery Corridor

The East Bay's Refinery Corridor is a string of toxic plants in the northern East Bay. Most of the properties in close proximity to the plants sell below the market rate, with deteriorating infrastructure and residents living below the poverty line. Along with the pollution from shipping sites, the Refinery Corridor’s chain of toxic plants emit harmful particulates in the air, decreasing local air quality. This chain of refineries is unique to California's North Coast, creating compounding effects that are informed by race and income. Non-white communities are most heavily impacted, with 88% of non-whites living in close proximity to the plants. The vast majority of those affected are Black families which is particuarly prominent in North Richmond's Chevron refinery.

Richmond Case Study

Richmond, California is a hot spot for the petrochemical industry. Contra Costa County is home to five major oil refineries, of which includes the Chevron refinery, which is the largest refinery west of the Mississippi River, as well as the top greenhouse gas emitter in the state. Heavy amounts of pollutants are produced and emitted from these sources, as well as the Santa Fe train and the diesel trucks along the Richmond parkway. Communities for a Better Environment and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control have identified over 350 toxic sites: “These myriad polluters affect an already vulnerable community where the closest full service grocery store is beyond walking distance and where access to health care is limited.”

As a dumping garage for private and commercial interests in the late 90’s and now a center for oil refineries, Richmond has depressed land, contaminated soil, and polluted water and air. Petroleum processing and petrochemical plants are subject to fires, explosions, spills, flaring and leaks which produce runoff and dump toxic waste into its surrounding waters, pastures, and croplands. In fact, elevated levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, and vanadium, an indicator of oil combustion and a reproductive and developmental toxicant, have been identified in the indoor and outdoor air of Richmond homes. The community is exposed to chemicals that include endocrine disruptors (chemicals that mimic hormones), particulates, heavy metals, and industrial byproducts.

The residents residing in the city of Richmond have been facing serious health issues such as asthma, birth defects, and long-term illnesses because of the toxins released by the oil refineries. The health gap is largest within the low-income, non-white residents, that live near the industrial sites. According to the landmark, 2007 environmental justice report by the United Church of Christ, about 56 percent of the nine million Americans who live in neighborhoods within three kilometers of large commercial hazardous waste facilities are people of color; there is a large number of Richmond residents that are suffering from asthma attacks, that are about “1.5 times more likely than those in the rest of the county to go to hospital emergency departments for asthma attacks.” It is said that residents in the Richmond area are more likely to go to the emergency room than other cities in the area. For example, the African American population has an alarmingly higher rate of visiting the emergency room than any other ethnicity in the county. The city of Richmond is experiencing a phenomenon of a clear twofold environmental and social dilemma; economic inequality and environmental degradation. The situation of health and livelihood disparity from the environmental impacts of the oil refineries surrounding the location is rooted in environmental racism, of which are founded through the social, economic, and political systems of our nation.

Issues Surrounding Rent and Property Ownership

Rent in the Bay Area has risen substantially these past couple of years. Data shows that the high rent is taking a toll on low income families. East Bay civilian Lena Chervin, says “There’s a sense of feeling trapped” from the high rent cost. To go more into specifics, this high rent is affecting low income families drastically. High rent does not only hurt them just by the high cost overall, but they are discriminated for being able to earn financial aid. A Bay Area audit study shows that people who benefited from financial aid by being low income earners, were discriminated, and quoted to a higher rental rate than people who did not receive financial aid benefits. Based on ECHO Housing’s audit we can see which specific cities in the East Bay discriminate most based on income.

Alameda: 0 of 10 (0 percent)
Cupertino: 1 of 6 (16.6 percent)
Hayward: 0 of 15 (0 percent)
Livermore: 5 of 10 (50 percent)
Redwood City: 2 of 15 (13.3 percent)
San Leandro: 8 of 15 (53.3 percent)
Union City: 2 of 10 (20 percent)

From this data, Bay Area residents should know that they can be discriminated upon their income. In this case, discrimination towards low income families makes it harder for them and their families to be able to afford to live in better and safer areas.

Furthermore, Bay Area residents are also redlined. To define redlining, it is when a certain person/group are denied from being able to live in a certain area. When it comes to living in the Bay Area, racial minorities are the ones that get most affected from redlining. Since they are redlined the most, their housing quality has been slowly deteriorating, an environmental injustice act. Moreover, this discrimination against minorities prevents them from being able to thrive in their home communities. According to data from the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, landlords and complex owners have refused or steered away from providing the appropriate service to minority groups who live in their housing complexes. Instead, landlords and complex owners provide the appropriate service needs to people who are not minorities, they prioritize other racial backgrounds, such as Whites. Because minorities are discriminated, this forces are pushes them to live in poorer and dangerous communities. Due to high rent in the Bay Area, they are unable to move out of these unsafe neighborhoods. Oakland is an example of a city that has a lot of redlining going on. Oakland has a community that is about 34.5% African American. Based on The Atlantic’s research article, we are able to see which Bay Area cities are redlined the most. Oakland shows data that is in the "red" zone meaning it has mostly lower income civilians. Based on these accusations, showing how Oakland is occupied with mostly lower income civilians and the percentage of minorities living in this part of the Bay Area, we can see how there is an environmental injustice situation occurring. A study by HUD from 2005 shows that Hispanics are more likely to be quoted a higher rent than a fellow White civilian looking for housing. The Bay Area has had an increase in the percentage of minorities living here, data from ABAG from US Census and American Community Survey Data shows that in the time frame from 2000-2005, 2005-2010, 2010-2013 the average annual growth for hispanic race has gradually increased by about 3.5%. When it comes to the Black population, the average annual growth for them during this time frame was about 0.5%. Slowly but surely the minority population has increased in the Bay Area, making it much more likely for them to encounter racial housing discrimination. The Bay Area Census from 2010’s data shows that the Bay Area is made up of about 6.7% African American, and 23.5% Hispanic or Latino. In total, minorities make up about 30% of the Bay Area population.

Displacement and Environmental Burdens

Oil refineries and chemical plants are located where they are less likely to be monitored, which tend to be areas of low-income housing or where communities typically don't have the time, voice, or funds to speak out. The housing in the Bay Area has been shaping since, and has been continuing in the same direction. As an example, most houses in Richmond sell below $100,000, being among the most affordable homes available in the Bay area. Although at a low financial cost, these homes come at a high health price, as they are exposed to heavy levels of pollutants.

While affordable housing seems to come with health burdens, this persisting housing oppression continues in the shape of gentrification. Displacement is a major concern that is occurring in the Bay Area. Many people are being pushed, not only to these hazardous oil refineries, but worse, are losing their homes and being displaced outside of cities. For example, in previous years, Richmond has had some of the most highest rates in both crime and corruption, but in the past 30 years, the city has been moving in a positive direction, decreasing crime rates, and attracting rich investors to implement projects in Richmond. These rich investors are what are causing gentrification to occur in the city and is why marginalized groups are being displaced from the city. These rich investors are causing the market rates to increase leading to the displacement of low income people and the arrival of the rich. Most of the population in Richmond rent homes from landlords, which are constantly increasing rents due to this change in the direction the city is having. Even homes that are already being exposed to the pollution from these refineries are also facing rent increases, leaving these groups chained to what is the “Richmond housing crisis”. Due to Richmond's long history of industrialization, caused the city to be easily manipulated by corporations willing to invest money into the city while negatively impacting people in poverty. About $3 million dollars were invested in Richmond's city council by Chevron, endorsing Nat Bates, who would be in favor of promoting these oil productions. This is an indication of how capitalism is gentrifying the city while shutting out low income populations to unaffordable and polluted homes.

Housing Changes Under the Trump Administration

President Donald Trump

Before his presidency, president Donald Trump acted as a real-estate developer in the marketplace. He has previously been involved in violating affordable housing laws and has been recorded discriminating against black tenant in the city of New York. For elections, Trump promised to cut business tax rates, which unfortunately had some repercussions on affordable housing in California. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program is a tax credit program that reduces what companies owe in taxes in exchange for investing in low income housing. Therefore, as Trump promised to decrease large corporation's business tax rate, these companies, large banks, and other investors are backing away from the tax credit program that supports and funds affordable housing. In fact, after election day, affordable housing projects in California saw major budget gaps and potential funding at risk.

The new 2017 Trump Administration is bringing many changes to a variety of Unites States policies. The new administration has already begun to impact housing, as the federal budget is now being impaled. The Federal Housing Administration planned to lower mortgage insurance costs on housing loans, of which President Trump effectively removed the plan shortly after his inauguration. It is estimated that this suspension of the proposed cut is said to cost homeowners an annual of millions of dollars, and drastically raise renting prices for renters. As 35.8% of Bay Area residents own their house while 64.2% of residents rent out their house, the majority of residents in the Bay Area will be affected by Trump's actions. The reduction of the federal government's budget on housing is creating a shortage in new housing across the country. Not only that, but low income housing is at stake, as these are programs subsidized by the government. Environmental justice is thus threatened by the Trump administration as federal programs such as, low-income housing serve marginalized poor communities of color. These actions hinder the upward social mobility, trap them in hazardous environments, and play into the cycle of racial segregation.

See also

• Housing discrimination (United States)
• Housing inequality

References

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