Newspaper drawing of a free Black man being sold to pay a fine in Monticello, FL//Digital Collection in the State Archives of Florida
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Florida’s growing cost of living and rapid development have made this state unaffordable for many, especially Black Floridians.
A new multimedia project from the Florida Policy Institute that illuminates how racism affects homeownership in the state.
The timeline dives into how systemic racism over the past 160 years has led to the displacement of Black Floridians.
Cicely Hodges is a policy analyst focused on housing at the Florida Policy Institute.
“We need to teach people about the history of the policies that are put in place, because oftentimes those policies are rooted in racism,” Hodges told WMNF.
She said she cried while making the timeline.
“It was also just sad to read back, see some of the stuff that, yes, was worse, but you can also see some of the parallels with today. And that’s frustrating. More than frustrating. It’s a bit disheartening,” Hodges said.
The timeline touches on redlining, where lenders and insurers would discriminate against minority areas, making homeownership more difficult.
All the way to last year’s HB 1365, which prohibits local governments’ authority to allow homeless encampments on public properties.
Hodges hopes the lawmakers will use this timeline to advocate for change.
“We need more housing built that is affordable for people who are cashiers, waitresses, people who are doing the majority of the jobs in the state that keep the state running,” Hodges said.