In a bold move towards restorative justice, the Evanston City Council has approved an expansion of its reparations program to include a direct cash payment to beneficiaries. The move comes after the city became the first in the United States to pass a reparations resolution in 2019 for Black residents who qualified. The program offers a $25,000 direct benefit to building wealth through home equity for Black residents who lived in Evanston during the period of harm, which was 1919 – 1969, or their direct descendants.
The initial grants were restricted to mortgage assistance, renovations, or a down payment on a home, but the Reparations Committee unanimously recommended the inclusion of a fourth option for beneficiaries receiving payment through the housing program: a direct cash payment. The council approved the cash option to its Housing Restorative Program in a three-hour meeting, with the addition being approved in just three seconds.
The program is designed to address the harm caused by discriminatory housing policies that restricted Black people to a certain portion of Evanston's 5th Ward and excluded them from other parts of the city. The area was disinvested in, stripped of a neighborhood school, and access to Health care. Specific anti-black zoning laws and housing practices were responsible for the city's racial segregation and all other racial gaps, including wealth and homeownership.
The city has faced challenges in funding and distributing the funds, with only $326,836 of the $10 million promised being spent. While the complications Evanston has seen with funding and allocating funds may come up across the US, the city has found solutions to the challenges.
Ramona Burton, one of the 14 people who have received the $25,000 grant so far, used the money to purchase a new roof, install eight new windows and a privacy fence, and repair her chimney. However, not all grant recipients are in favor of the cash option. Some believe that there should be some stipulations that will help the city in housing and help the value of their property stay stable or go up.
In conclusion, the Evanston City Council's expansion of its reparations program to include a direct cash payment to beneficiaries is a bold step towards restorative justice. The program addresses the harm caused by discriminatory housing policies and offers Black residents an opportunity to build wealth through home equity. The challenges faced by the city in funding and distributing the funds may come up across the US, but Evanston has found solutions to these challenges. The move towards restorative justice in Evanston is a positive step towards addressing the racial injustices that have affected Black communities for generations.
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