Black political power and its impact on Federal Housing Subsidy Program 235 (I) in Charlotte, North Carolina

This paper presents an analysis of the Federal Housing Act program 235(i) and the convergence of the growing Black political power in Charlotte, North Carolina in the 1980's. The project analyzes the housing market in Charlotte, placing significant emphasis on the levels of Black home ownership, and addresses the racial and political climate that shaped how FHA 235(i) was utilized in the city. The paper provides planning and policy recommendations in the context of addressing racial and class issues that must be rectified to permit substantive change. The research also explained how the Black middle class was developed by using Federal Housing subsidies to become first time home buyers during the early creation of the "New South" in the sunbelt region of the United States. The research also demonstrated the class separation in the Black community created by the geographical location of homeowners, rate of educational attainment, wealth and job classification. It is also explains the Black political influence of where and how housing subsidies were made available to create the strength to influence future political and economic growth.