The Privatization of Public Housing and Its Impact on African Americans and Other People of Color

WHEREAS, the mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race hatred and racial discrimination; and

WHEREAS, urban renewal and revitalization continue to displace African Americans from their communities and increase the costs of housing making decent housing unaffordable for many; and

WHEREAS, 170,000 families needed shelter in 2009, up from 159,000 in 2008, according to an annual survey from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]; and

WHEREAS, between 2005 and 2009 the African American population has lost over 50% of their wealth in the recent unprecedented number of foreclosures due to double-digit unemployment, underemployment, and predatory lending and disproportionately relies on public housing; and

WHEREAS, the rights of public housing residents to decent affordable housing are protected with regards to notification, the right to return, and relocation assistance; and

WHEREAS, the privatization of public housing significantly impacts African Americans and other communities of color.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its support for public housing and public housing policies that strengthen all low and moderate income communities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP investigate the privatization of public housing stock and its effects on African Americans and other communities of color and reports its findings to the 2013 National Convention.