Your Voice Is Needed: Covenant Homeownership Act Survey

Have you experienced Housing Discrimination?

Your input is needed by January 7th to inform study findings

In May 2023, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law the Covenant Homeownership Act (Act). The landmark law calls for a research study to document any complicity of government institutions in racial housing discrimination as well as the impacts of such discrimination on homeownership access. 

The Act also requires the study to analyze how well race-neutral approaches to expanding homeownership opportunities might overcome or remedy any identified harm and whether legally designed Special Purpose Credit Programs are necessary to fulfill the task. 

If the study reveals the government played a role in supporting discrimination, it will also determine who could be eligible for homebuyer assistance programs to reduce racial homeownership disparities in the state. Families that were harmed by racist restrictions in housing opportunities may be eligible for a down-payment assistance program. Funding for the program will come from a $100 Covenant Homeownership recording fee that will apply to real estate transactions.

To provide input on the extent of discriminatory practice in Washington, complete a brief survey by January 7th (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C3LBM9N)

About this work: 

The National Fair Housing Allianceis proud to have been selected along with Abt Associates, the Fair Housing Center of Washington, and the Northwest Fair Housing Alliance, to complete the study, a fundamental step in implementing the Act. Study updates, and findings will be available at https://www.wshfc.org/covenant/.