BHI Network Policy Group
Leading policy change for Black homeownership in Washington state.
The Black Home Initiative (BHI) Network Policy Group leads policy and advocacy for the Black Home Initiative, a regional effort to address inequities in our housing ecosystem. Our members work together to identify policies with the greatest promise for closing the racial homeownership gap, and to unite our communities around shared advocacy goals.
We envision a future where homeownership rates for Black communities in Washington state are equal to those of their white peers.
Our Work
The BHI Network Policy Group includes more than 200+ stakeholders with expertise in affordable housing, homeownership, public policy, advocacy, and community organizing. The Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County is honored to serve as the convener of the BHI Network Policy Group. We convene monthly to:
- Coordinate a cohesive policy strategy to advance Black homeownership in Washington state.
- Bring our communities together around shared advocacy goals for Black homes.
- Study promising policies and compile a Homeownership Policy Framework.
- Work with policymakers and local leaders to inform new legislation.
Policy in Action: The Covenant Homeownership Act
Policy is one of seven focus areas in the BHI 7-Point Plan and the BHI Network Policy Group is the policy arm of BHI. In 2022, with a state legislative session approaching, the BHI Network Policy Group came together for the first time to answer one core question: What policies will most effectively increase, maintain, and sustain homeownership among Washington State’s Black households? Our goal was to collect the most promising policies in a framework, one that would inform a cohesive advocacy strategy and unite our broader networks toward common goals. After months of research, feedback sessions with bill sponsors, and deep dives into potential policies, we launched our first Homeownership Policy Framework.
A lead bill in that first framework was the Covenant Homeownership Act, HB 1474, a first-in-the-nation law to repair the harm of housing discrimination through targeted assistance to those harmed. As of December 2025, over 1,000 households in 24 counties have become homeowners because of assistance from the Covenant Homeownership Program. The BHI Network Policy Group informed the development of the Covenant Homeownership Act, and their advocacy was instrumental in its passage. The group continues to grow their impact and target the racial inequities at the core of the housing ecosystem.
Building a policy framework to focus our advocacy efforts around a common goal: eliminating the racial homeownership gap.
Policy created the racial homeownership and wealth disparities we see today—and policy has a key role to play in undoing them. The BHI Network Policy Group works alongside other BHI partners, lawmakers, and community members to study, inform, and drive policy that increases Black homeownership in our state.
Our Homeownership Policy Framework guides our advocacy work throughout legislative sessions and beyond.
Our Policy Framework
The Homeownership Policy Framework includes both big-picture goals and specific bills we’re mobilizing behind, all of which fall into one of four strategic focus areas.
Reports, links, and other advocacy resources for Black homeownership policy.
Policy Summit Recordings
- BHI Policy Summit – 12/18/25 (in-person event, no recording)
- BHI Network Policy Summit – 12/18/2024
- BHI Network Policy Summit – 12/13/2023
- BHI Network Policy Summit – 12/15/2022
Policy Group Meeting Recordings
Please stay tuned for 2026 recordings!
Links & Other Resources
- Why Housing Discrimination Is Worse Today Than It Was In The 1960s – King 5 News Story
- Improving Homeownership Rates for Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Washington
- Home Appraised With a Black Owner: $472,000. With a White Owner: $750,000
- Explaining the Black-White Homeownership Gap
- Urban Institute Project: Housing Justice Hub
- 3by30 – The Black Homeownership Collaborative
- Closing the Homeownership Gap Will Require Rooting Systemic Racism Out of Mortgage Underwriting
- Welcome to Project 10X | Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
- BIPOC Homeownership Summit Background (CMHC)
- Racial Wealth Divide in Seattle (Prosperity Now)
- 60% Black Homeownership: A Radical Goal for Black Wealth Development (NCRC)
- Housing Needs Assessment Report (PolicyMap)
- Outcome | Individual Income & Wealth (Boston Consulting Group)
- 2021 State of Housing in Black America (NAREB)
- Black Homeownership Rate Hits Lowest Level Since the 1960s—That’s Unlikely to Change in Pandemic Year 2 (MarketWatch)
- Black Homeownership Pushed by Florida Housing Coalition (The Miami Times)
- Improving Homeownership Rates for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Washington: Recommendations from the Homeownership Disparities Work Group – Washington State Department of Commerce, 2022
- Increasing Black Homeownership in the Puget Sound Region in 7 Focus Areas – Black Home Initiative, 2021
Use Your Voice for Change!
The BHI Policy Network is growing! We’re looking for people inspired and driven to take action to close the racial homeownership and wealth gaps, people ready to roll up their sleeves and advocate for homeownership across the Puget Sound Region. If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
