How might we support Black homeowners in sustaining homeownership and building generational wealth?

Logo of Minnesota Homeownership Center with overlapping green, blue, and purple squares around a purple diamond shape.

The Sustainable Homeownership Project

For many first-time Black homeowners in Minnesota, the journey doesn’t end at closing - that’s where the challenges often begin.

Minnesota’s disparities in homeownership are some of the widest in the nation. 76% of white households own their homes as compared to 30% of Black households. Black households also face a 30% to 50% likelihood of returning to renting.

Our goal is to address the persistent disparities in homeownership between Black and white households in the Twin Cities by providing critical post-purchase resources.

We supported seven collaborating organizations and Black homeowners in understanding what it would take to build a sustainable support system to help Black families stay in their homes and build generational wealth.

Water tower with the word 'Robbinsdale' written on it, surrounded by trees and residential houses, under a partly cloudy sky.
Three women standing in front of a whiteboard with various colorful sticky notes and papers, engaged in brainstorming or planning.
Suburban neighborhood with colorful houses, well-maintained gardens, mature trees, and clear blue sky.

Landscape Analysis + Systems Mapping

We performed secondary research to understand what post-purchase programs already exist across the United States. Then, we interviewed organizational representatives, along with program participants, to understand the success and challenges of these programs. We mapped the full system and provided critical insights that created a shared understanding across the collaborating organizations.

Group of six people gathered in front of a wall with sticky notes and papers, discussing or brainstorming.

Cross-Stakeholder Co-Design Sessions

We interviewed Black homeowners and provided key insights that revealed emotional, logistical, and structural barriers. Based on these insights, we brought housing organizations and homeowners together to co-design the future of post-purchase support. Not only did it help everyone explore potential interventions, it became healing and built trust, accountability, and shared purpose.

Front yard of a house with a lawn, garden with colorful flowers, white hydrangeas, and greenery. A small sign is on the lawn. Two houses, one blue with white trim and one red brick with black and white detailing, are visible in the background. There is a bench, an umbrella, and a patio with steps leading to the front door.

Narrative Shift + Strategic Recommendations

We developed an interactive webpage that centers homeowner voices and the changes they wish to see, shifting from assumptions to clear needs and desires. We also provided a Post-Purchase Support Framework that included a clear vision and direction for supporting homeowners, four prioritized concepts to move forward into pilot, and a connected and aligned collaborative.

The Impact

  • Seven organizations aligned around a shared strategy for post-purchase support, reducing duplication and strengthening the overall system.

  • The group was awarded $1 million in in funding to pilot the interventions co-designed with homeownership and professionals over the next two years.

  • Leaders and homeowners now speak with a unified message: Families do not fail at homeownership. The systems fails them, and together we can design impactful support.