The Central District neighborhood of Seattle is grappling with a troubling statistic: the percentage of Black homeowners has reached a historic low, with less than half as many Black households owning homes compared to their white counterparts across the city.
This concerning reality raises the question: what measures can be taken to reverse this trend?
One answer might lie in Washington state’s Covenant Homeownership Program, a new initiative designed to address the historic injustices that have plagued homeownership for Black families.
In the United States, the path to building wealth has often been linked to owning real estate. However, for many families, particularly those from minority backgrounds, this avenue remains largely inaccessible.
Chukundi Salisbury, a volunteer director of Black Legacy Homeowners, reflects on the systemic barriers faced by Black potential homeowners. “Even if Black people came to you with the money and wanted to buy your house,” he says, “it was in the covenant, in the deed, that said you cannot sell to Black people.”
The problem of racial restrictive covenants in real estate has historical roots, with many local property deeds still bearing racist language despite these practices being outlawed since the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968.
The timing of the Fair Housing Act’s implementation coincides with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a pivotal figure advocating for equitable housing practices.
However, the remnants of discrimination have not vanished; they have instead gone underground, as Salisbury notes. Disparities in access to home loans persist, with Black families facing twice the difficulty in obtaining mortgages compared to white families.
As rising property taxes and the pressures of gentrification push Black families from their neighborhoods, the demographic of Seattle’s Central District has shifted dramatically, falling from more than 70% Black in 1970 to only 12% today.
Ruby Holland, a lifelong resident, has witnessed the transformative effects of these changes firsthand.
Returning to her mother’s house in 2015 after years of living in Atlanta, she has seen gentrification take root in the Central District.
At a community meeting, she vividly recalls a moment when a white attendee suggested she move simply because others were doing so.
“Why should I?” Holland retorted.
Beyond social pressures, economic forces have also contributed to the decline in Black homeownership. Rising property values, often due to upzoning and increased development potential, lead to higher property taxes that make it difficult for residents to stay in their homes, even if they have previously owned them.
Holland’s friends have faced the pressure of outside buyers, offering seemingly attractive deals, often leading to sales made in moments of financial desperation.
“Everybody I talked to, I told ’em, ‘No, you don’t. You don’t have to leave,’” Holland urges, attempting to counteract the urgency behind such offers.
While predatory home-buying tactics have become less common today, the financial pressures on Black homeowners in the Central District remain a significant concern.
To combat these challenges and increase Black homeownership in Seattle, a multi-faceted approach is necessary, and experts suggest that the Covenant Homeownership Program could play an essential role, provided individuals are informed and willing to participate.
The program takes its name from the history of racist covenants and aims to address the long-standing damage that has resulted from these discriminatory practices.
Eligible participants must meet income requirements, be descendants of those who lived in Washington before 1968, and be part of targeted groups historically affected by these covenants, including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and more.
The program offers assistance with down payments and closing costs in the form of no-interest loans, which do not need to be repaid until the property is sold.
The funding mechanism for the program is rooted in public fees: all real estate transactions require a $100 fee when certain documents are filed, which is pooled into a fund for the program.
So far, this initiative has aided 270 families statewide in their pursuit of homeownership.
As many Black families are pushed southward due to rising costs in Seattle, cities like Kent and Tacoma have seen significant participation in the program.
Jessica Talton, a mortgage lender in Kent, has assisted approximately 70 families with their home purchases through this program, describing it as a transformative opportunity for clients who previously thought homeownership was beyond their reach.
“I think it’s been a game-changer for my clientele,” she notes, highlighting the renewed hope it brings to those who previously faced barriers to home ownership.
Real estate agent Dee Scott observes that many Black homebuyers remain skeptical about available opportunities, often questioning the validity of such programs, reflecting deep-seated societal conditioning around entitlement to wealth and property.
The challenge thus extends beyond financial considerations; it encompasses the restoration of confidence and belief in the possibility of homeownership for many Black families.
This program, however, is facing opposition and potential legal challenges amid a broader political climate that exhibits hostility toward affirmative action initiatives.
Activist Tim Eyman has voiced his opposition, citing a past voter-approved initiative from the late 1990s that prohibits preferential treatment based on race or ethnicity.
Experts warn that legal challenges may arise, drawing parallels with recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court against affirmative action in educational settings.
Nonetheless, the architects of the Covenant Homeownership Program took extensive measures to ensure its legal robustness, spending a year further researching its implementation following its inception by the Washington State Legislature in 2023.
Recently, a significant expansion to the program became law, spearheaded by Rep. Jamila Taylor (D–Federal Way) and enacted by Gov. Bob Ferguson in April 2025.
This revamped program is designed to be more effective in Seattle, where the cost of homeownership has traditionally limited the program’s reach.
The new legislation raises the income limits for participants, allowing a broader range of homebuyers to qualify.
Additionally, for low-income households, the program will fully forgive loans after a set period, thus providing another pathway to homeownership without the burden of perpetual debt.
Experts believe that these changes have the potential to reverse current trends of disinvestment and help to increase Black homeownership rates in Seattle and beyond.
Despite these challenges and the loss of many Black homeowners over the decades, some long-time residents remain, playing a crucial role in preserving the fabric of the Central District.
Holland, among others, is committed to maintaining Black households in the community, ensuring future generations can also thrive within their heritage.
As Chukundi Salisbury from Black Legacy Homeowners walks through the Central District, he enthusiastically points to homes where established Black residents, like retired King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, continue to live.
Salisbury proudly speaks about one homeowner whose family history, tied to generational wealth, has motivated him to resist offers from developers eager to buy him out.
“His grandma’s wish was: ‘Don’t sell my property,’
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