“Modern Day Redlining”:145+ Black Women Demand Kansas City End Discriminatory Housing Practices

KANSAS CITY, MO — In a passionate and unified letter, over 145 Black women of Kansas City have come together to address a critical issue plaguing our community: discriminatory housing practices. Addressed to Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council, their letter is a rallying cry against source of income discrimination — a pervasive & racist policy that disproportionately impacts Black families, particularly single mothers. “We, over 145 Black women and constituents of Kansas City, write to express our avid support for a strong ban on source of income discrimination in Kansas City,” the letter begins, setting the tone for a powerful appeal rooted in the lived experiences of these women. Source of income discrimination is not merely a policy issue but a blatant act of racial and gender oppression. It is the practice of landlords and property managers refusing tenancy to individuals based on their income sources, such as housing assistance vouchers or disability benefits. This policy disproportionately affects Black residents, with Black women and their children being the most vulnerable. The letter starkly highlights the intersection of race and gender: “Black women with children make up the largest share of voucher holders in Missouri; when...