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Full-Text Articles in Social Justice
Can Preference Policies Advance Racial Justice?, Amie Thurber, Lisa Bates, Susan Halverson
Can Preference Policies Advance Racial Justice?, Amie Thurber, Lisa Bates, Susan Halverson
School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations
Mitigating the harms of gentrification to communities of color is a pressing challenge. One promising approach is preference policies that enable long-term residents to remain in or return to gentrifying neighborhoods. This mixed-methods study evaluates the City of Portland’s “Preference Policy,” which provides targeted affordable rental housing to residents displaced from a historically Black neighborhood. This paper draws on survey, interview, and focus group data to explore resident motivations, changes to well-being, and recommendations for improving the policy. Findings suggest preference policies can enhance well-being, and underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to advance racial justice in gentrifying neighborhoods.