Nation’s First Homebuyer Assistance Fund for Descendants of Formerly Enslaved People Approved by California State Legislature

[Sacramento, CA]- Tackling discrimination that has limited homeownership opportunities for millions of Californians, AB 57 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D - Inglewood) was overwhelmingly approved by the State Legislature today. The State Assembly gave its final approval to this historic measure on a vote of 58 to 10. The State Senate previously approved AB 57 on a vote of 28 to 9.

The legacy of American slavery, systemic housing discrimination, redlining, racial covenants and discriminatory lending have denied families across California the ability to buy a home, invest in community and build generational wealth. Descendants of formerly enslaved people continue to have homeownership rates nearly 30 percentage points lower than white families.

In order to address these generational injustices, AB 57 dedicates ten percent of California's Home Purchase Assistance Program to help California descendants of formerly enslaved people achieve the American dream of homeownership. AB 57 thoughtfully and intentionally directs this funding to descendants of formerly enslaved people, which is a legal status and not based upon a person's race.

"Promoting homeownership is foundational to our core values as Americans," said Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. "The pride of homeownership unfortunately has been denied to millions of Californians through discriminatory housing laws. AB 57 will help break the cycle of housing discrimination and open the doors of homeownership to millions of Californians. I am grateful to the State Senate for standing with the descendants of formerly enslaved people and I call upon Governor Newsom to lead our nation once again by making homeownership a reality, not just a promise for those that need it most."

AB 57 is part of the California Legislative Black Caucus' "Road to Repair" legislative package, designed to address harm caused to Californians resulting from American slavery. The measure now returns to the State Assembly for final consideration.

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