The Center’s Fair Lending Presentation at the Detroit Association of Realtors Homearama held on November 11, 2023

Steve Tomkowiak • November 30, 2023

Lending Disparities Persist in the Detroit Market

At a recent Detroit Association of Realtors® recent homearama event, the Center prepared a PowerPoint that addressed three topics:

I. Importance of Home Ownership & Disparities in Home Ownership Rates

II. Fair Housing & Buyer “Love Letters”

III. Proving Lending Discrimination: Testing & Comparable Loan Files

Notable findings include:

The Black/White disparities in homeownership rates were greater in 2022 than in 1970, despite passage of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968.

Current HMDA data shows that racial disparities in lending continue in the Detroit market. The loan origination rate for Black applicants in Detroit was just 40% in 2022. Subprime indicators were 20.63% in Detroit for Black applicants, in comparison to 5.36% for White applicants.

There are stunning disparities in loan origination rates among lenders. The top performing lenders originated loans in Detroit at rates of 100% (88 applications), 75.97% (154 applications), and 70.71% (140 applications). At the bottom end, lenders originated loans at 0% (208 applications), 1.99% (151 applications), and 4.05% (247 applications).

Appraisals in Detroit appear to be receiving close scrutiny, with the appraised value of homes in Detroit more often listed as a reason for denial of a loan application than in other communities.

The Center welcomes careful consideration of its PowerPoint presentation for those interested in addressing disparities in the Detroit lending market.

Fair Lending - Detroit Association of Realtors Homearama (Nov. 11, 2023)

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Detroit School Integration Timeline - History of School Integration and Segregation in Detroit

By Steve Tomkowiak • March 7, 2025

University of Michigan Law School Professor Michelle Adams ’ research interests include race discrimination, school desegregation, affirmative action, and housing law. Two of Professor Adams’ students, Michelle Landry and Victoria Pedri (pictured above) from Professor Adams’ Race, Law, and History course, developed a “ Detroit School Integration Timeline ”. The timeline traces the history from Detroit’s establishment of its first “colored school”, to the Dred Scott decision, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the Great Migration, racially restrictive covenants, redlining, the Birwood (Eight Mile) Wall, white flight, the enactment of the Fair Housing Act, the Milliken v. Bradley decision and efforts to desegregate Detroit schools, through the recent decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. The timeline is informative, user-friendly and includes many helpful videos. Congratulations to Michelle and Victoria for creating this amazing resource. Detroit School Integration Timeline Legal History Project: Detroit, Michigan (Law students Michelle Landry and Victoria Pedri briefly introduce themselves and thank viewers for checking out their timeline project)

Livonia Housing Commission's Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List Opening

By Steve Tomkowiak • December 10, 2024

The Livonia Housing Commission has announced the opening of its Housing Choice Voucher (HVC) waiting list. To apply successfully, you need to provide the Commission with the following information: The first and last names of all members of your household The Social security numbers and birthdates of all members of your household. Total gross annual income of everyone in your household. This includes wages, child support, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), General Assistance and Unemployment Income. A valid mailing address and email address. Only one application is permitted per household. Accurate information must be submitted in order to contact applicants if they are selected in the lottery. How to Apply Use this link to start the application process. At the bottom of the page, click Get Started . Persons with disabilities who require accommodations with the online waitlist application, may call the Livonia Housing Commission at (734) 634-0294 or send an email to kwesley@livonia.gov . (If you do not have the social security numbers, please contact the Fair Housing Center by phone at 313-579-3247 or by email to info@fairhousingdetroit.org.)