You’ve saved for years to buy a home, but the government slams the door shut—because you’re white. Across America, programs like Washington State’s Covenant Homeownership Program offer massive grants to Black and Hispanic first-time buyers, while white folks get zip. This discrimination, dressed up as justice for past wrongs, is sparking outrage. Why are low-income white families blocked from homeownership aid? Let’s dig into these divisive programs and their unfair bite.

Washington’s Covenant: Discrimination in Action

The Washington State Covenant Homeownership Program gives up to $150,000 in forgivable loans to Black, Hispanic, Native American, and select Asian first-time buyers. White applicants, even those scraping by, are shut out. Why discriminatory? It hinges on race, not need. A white family earning $30,000 is ineligible, while a Black family earning $115,000 qualifies. This racial barrier ignores the crushing home prices hitting everyone, fueling cries of unfairness.

San Diego and Vermont: More Discriminatory Barriers

San Diego’s Black Homebuyers Program hands Black first-time buyers $10,000, forgiven after five years. Vermont’s Homeownership Equity Program offers $25,000 to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. White buyers? No chance. These programs discriminate by excluding white applicants, regardless of their struggles. A white renter in San Diego, facing $550,000 home prices, gets nothing, while a wealthier Black buyer scores aid. Race overrides hardship.

D.C. and Miami: Discriminatory Roadblocks Persist

In Washington, D.C., Homes by CFE delivers up to $100,000 for Black and Latino buyers, barring whites. Miami’s OneUnited Bank Lift Up Program gives Black buyers $50,000. Why the 21st century racial separation? These programs lock out white applicants, even those in poverty. A white D.C. single mom earning $40,000 can’t apply, but a Latino buyer earning double can. By prioritizing race, they push fairness aside, leaving white folks stranded.

Discrimination’s Legal and Ethical Impossibility

Supporters claim these programs fix historical inequities, citing Black homeownership at 44.7% versus 72.3% for whites. Yet, discrimination against white buyers invites legal scrutiny. The 14th Amendment demands equal treatment, and critics argue race-based aid fails this test. Ethically, it’s a gut punch: why exclude struggling white families today for sins of the past? As lawsuits loom, the debate rages over fairness and justice.

List of Programs and Why They’re Discriminatory

• Washington State Covenant Homeownership Program
  • Minority Groups Served: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Korean, Asian Indian.
  • Amount: Up to $150,000, forgivable after five years (80% AMI or below).
  • Why Discriminatory: Bars white applicants based on race, ignoring economic hardship. A low-income white buyer misses out, while a rich minority qualifies.
• San Diego Black Homebuyers Program
  • Minority Groups Served: Black, African American.
  • Amount: $10,000, forgivable after five years.
  • Why Discriminatory: Excludes white applicants, even those facing identical financial barriers. White renters get no help, while Black buyers do, regardless of income.
• Vermont Homeownership Equity Program
  • Minority Groups Served: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
  • Amount: $25,000, forgivable after 5–10 years.
  • Why Discriminatory: Denies white buyers, assuming they’re advantaged. A struggling white Vermonter is locked out, while a better-off minority buyer gets aid.
• Homes by CFE Down Payment Assistance (Washington, D.C.)
  • Minority Groups Served: Black, Latino.
  • Amount: Up to $100,000 (20% of purchase price) plus $10,000 for closing costs, five-year deferral.
  • Why Discriminatory: Blocks white applicants, even in poverty. A low-income white D.C. resident can’t apply, but a richer Latino can.
• OneUnited Bank Lift Up Homeownership Program (Miami-Dade, FL)
  • Minority Groups Served: Black, African American.
  • Amount: $50,000, forgivable after 5–10 years.
  • Why Discriminatory: Shuts out white buyers, no matter their financial strain. A white Miami renter in need is ineligible, while a Black buyer with more means gets help.

Summary and a Sharp Question

Washington’s $150,000 loans, San Diego’s $10,000 grants, Vermont’s $25,000 aid, D.C.’s $100,000 program, and Miami’s $50,000 grants all discriminate by excluding white first-time buyers. These programs, with hundreds more that were not mentioned, prioritizing race over need, ignite accusations of unfairness and legal challenges.

As homeownership slips away, one question stabs: should race dictate aid, or does need deserve the key?

Like this article? Leave a comment!
Share a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/criordan
Follow me on X: @CRiordan2024