To help preserve the history and homes of Black homeowners in the Houston neighborhood of Kashmere Gardens, Texas Southern University‘s Earl Carl Institute has received a $300,000 grant to establish estate planning services.
The Rockwell Fund has given TSU’s Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy a $300,000 grant to expand its heirs’ property and estate planning services in the Kashmere Gardens neighborhood over the next two years. In addition to a $300,000 grant from the Rockwell Fund in 2025, the new award will help the Institute’s work to remove legal obstacles that jeopardize residents’ access to stable housing and their ability to preserve their generational wealth.
“Heirs’ property challenges disproportionately affect Black families and low-to-moderate income households, limiting their ability to build and preserve generational wealth while increasing vulnerability to property loss,” said Sarah Guidry, executive director of the Earl Carl Institute, through a statement published by TSU.
A family losing a home due to a lack of estate planning and ownership disputes not only means the loss of an asset, but also of family history and the memories created there. Low to mid-income Black families are especially vulnerable, lacking access to the resources necessary to preserve their homes. The Earl Carl Institute is hoping to help level the playing field by providing that access.
“Through this work, we aim to help families stabilize ownership, protect their homes, and preserve long-term wealth in Kashmere Gardens,” Guidry said. “We will help families with inherited properties secure tax exemptions, home repairs, and disaster relief.”
The program will also provide services to help prevent foreclosures, as well as confirm family agreements to ensure properties stay within families. Ensuring agreements are in place prevents the loss of legacy to bad actors and predatory real estate investors who often target communities like Kashmere Gardens because of the lack of estate planning.
The grant will fund the employment of a committed attorney who will meet with community members once a week at a central site, allowing them to build relationships with community members and address any concerns they may have.
Located at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas, the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy is a nonprofit advocacy think tank. It was established in 1992 to empower marginalized groups and tackle systemic socioeconomic challenges through free legal representation, research, and public policy advocacy.
The program created by the institute will enable residents to more effectively handle complex property and estate matters through education, legal support, and proactive planning.