PlanSpokane

Racially Disparate Impacts and Displacement Risk

Housing and homeownership are foundational parts of belonging in a community. However, access to housing and housing challenges have not been felt equally. A history of policies and practices at both the local and national level have disproportionately and adversely shaped the housing experience for many within Spokane, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). As part of the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan, the goal of this effort is to understand the housing experience of different racial groups; where residents are able to attain housing and the impacts that housing has on their quality of life; recognize where City policy may be unintentionally reinforcing those impacts; and establish recommendations on how to begin to undo those harms through PlanSpokane 2046.

This work is in alignment with HB 1220 (RCW 36.70A.070(2)) that requires jurisdictions to adopt a housing element that:

5. Identifies local policies and regulations that result in racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing, including:
   1. Zoning that may have a discriminatory effect;
   2. Disinvestment; and
   3. Infrastructure availability;
6. Identifies and implement policies and regulations to address and begin to undo racially disparate impacts, displacement, and exclusion in housing caused by local policies, plans, and actions;
7. Identifies areas that may be at higher risk of displacement from market forces that occur with changes to zoning development regulations and capital investments; and
8. Establishes anti-displacement policies, with consideration given to the preservation of historical and cultural communities as well as investments in low, very low, extremely low, and moderate-income housing; equitable development initiatives; inclusionary zoning; community planning requirements; tenant protections; land disposition policies; and consideration of land that may be used for affordable housing.

In addition to analyzing racially disparate impacts of housing policies and the outcomes associated with where someone is able to live, it is also important to consider the potential risk of losing that housing. Displacement is when a household is forced or pressured to move from their community such as demolitions, evictions, foreclosures, or being priced out. Future displacement risk was accessed throughout the city, identifying populations most vulnerable to housing loss due to various factors including areas of recent neighborhood change and an analysis of community and market conditions. This analysis will identify areas at higher risk of displacement and support the establishment of anti-displacement measures that will help residents remain in their neighborhoods.

Learn more about the HB 1220 requirements in the WA Commerce Guidance to Address Racially Disparate Impacts.

Racially Disparate Impacts Analysis – Draft Report

The Draft Racially Disparate Impacts Analysis (PDF 5.0 MB) is available now, prepared in coordination with a cross-department working group bringing together staff from Planning, Development Services Center, Community, Housing & Human Services, Historic Preservation, Office of Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion, and City Council Office. Staff will be working with the community and with City Boards & Commissions, the Plan Commission, and City Council to move from recommendations to action with the goal of adopting updated housing policies and development regulations through the PlanSpokane 2046 Periodic Update.