Illinois
Alton/Granite
Hundreds of families in Alton and Granite lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Eight communities in and near Alton (top left) and Granite were hit hard with home equity theft. In one community, more than 7 out of every 100 homes were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Communities Struggling to Find Jobs Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average unemployment rate of 13.0%—greater than the state average of 6.6%—in 2018.
Communities with Lower College Attainment Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had a college attainment rate of 23%—less than the state average of 34%—in 2018.
Low-Income Communities Are Disproportionally Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of just $39,000—less than the state median of $64,000— in 2018.
Antioch/Waukegan
Hundreds of families in Antioch and Waukegan lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Two communities in Antioch (top left) and Waukegan were hit hard by home equity theft. On average, 4 out of every 100 homes were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Communities Struggling to Find Jobs Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average unemployment rate of 9.3%—greater than the state average of 6.6%—in 2018.
Educated Communities Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had rates of college attainment greater than 38%—greater than the state average of 34%—in 2018.
Minority and Nonminority Communities Are Disproportionally Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The hardest-hit community’s residents were 9% black or Hispanic, but the second-hardest-hit community’s residents were 64% Black or Hispanic.
Chicago
Hundreds of families on Chicago’s South Side lost their homes—and all the savings they had built in those homes—because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Chicago Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Communities in West Englewood (top left) and Roseland (bottom center) were the hardest hit by home equity theft. The homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Chicago Communities with High Unemployment Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had unemployment rates more than three times the state average of 6.6%.
Low-Income Chicago Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
West Englewood, the community hit hardest by home equity theft, had a median household income of just $26,000.
Black and Hispanic Chicago Communities Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
More than 90% of residents in the hardest-hit South Side communities were black or Hispanic.
Rockford
Hundreds of families in Rockford lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Eighteen communities in Rockford were hit hard with home equity theft. For every 100 homes, more than 2 were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Communities Struggling to Find Jobs Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average unemployment rate of 17.0%—greater than the state average of 6.6%—in 2018.
Communities with Lower College Attainment Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had a college attainment rate of 14%—less than the state average of 34%—in 2018.
Black and Hispanic Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In these communities, 57% of the residents were Black or Hispanic.
Springfield
Hundreds of families in Springfield, Illinois, lost their homes—and all the savings they had built in those homes—because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Springfield, IL, Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Six communities on Springfield’s east side were hit hard by home equity theft. For every one hundred homes, three were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Springfield, IL, Communities with High Unemployment Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had unemployment rates greater than the state average of 6.6%. One area’s unemployment rate was 28%.
Low-Income Springfield, IL, Communities Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of just $25,000.
Black and Hispanic Springfield, IL, Communities Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
On average, 60% of the residents of the hardest-hit communities’ were black or Hispanic.
Massachusetts
Springfield
Dozens of families in Springfield, Massachusetts, lost their homes—and all the savings they had built in those homes—because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Springfield, MA, Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Springfield’s McKnight Historic District (center) was the hardest hit by home equity theft. The 22 homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Educated Springfield, MA, Community Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The McKnight Historic District had a higher rate of residents with at least a bachelor’s degree (35%) compared to many neighboring areas.
Black and Hispanic Springfield, MA, Community Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In the McKnight Historic District, 78% of residents were black or Hispanic.
Low-Income Springfield, MA, Community Hurt by Home Equity Theft
Despite its higher rate of educational attainment, the McKnight Historic District had a median household income of just under $25,000.
Minnesota
Duluth
Hundreds of families in Duluth and surrounding communities in St. Louis County lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Thirteen communities in and near Duluth were hit hard with home equity theft. In one community, 9 out of every 100 homes were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Communities Struggling to Find Jobs Are Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average unemployment rate of 6.6%—greater than the state average of 3.9%—in 2018.
Low-Income Communities Are Disproportionally Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of approximately $48,000—less than the state median of approximately $68,000—in 2018.
Nonminority Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The hardest-hit communities have less than 3% Black and Hispanic populations, on average.
Mora
Dozens of families in Mora lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
One community in Mora was hit hard with home equity theft, with almost 2 out of every 100 homes taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Community on Food Stamps Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The community hardest hit by home equity theft had more than 20% of households relying on food stamps.
Low-Income Community Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The community hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of approximately $42,000—less than the state median of approximately $68,000—in 2018.
Nonminority Community Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The hardest-hit community had less than 3% Black and Hispanic populations.
Minneapolis
Hundreds of families in Minneapolis lost their homes—and all the savings they had built in those homes—because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Minneapolis Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
The areas on the map above represent the nine Minneapolis communities hit hardest by home equity theft. The homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Low-Income Minneapolis Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
Low-income communities are among those hit hardest by home equity theft. The average median household income for the nine Minneapolis communities was under $40,000.
Minneapolis Communities with Lower College Attainment Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The Minneapolis communities hardest hit by home equity theft typically have attainment rates for bachelor’s degrees (or higher) below 30%.
Black and Hispanic Minneapolis Communities Disproportionately Hurt by Home Equity Theft
Nearly all the hardest-hit Minneapolis communities are majority black and Hispanic.
New Jersey
Camden
Dozens of families in Camden lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Neighborhood with the Most Home Equity Theft
Camden’s Parkside neighborhood was hit hard by home equity theft. The homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Neighborhood Struggling to Find Jobs Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
Parkside had an unemployment rate of 19.1%—nearly four times the state average of 4.9%—in 2018.
Low-Income Neighborhood Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
Parkside had an average median household income of approximately $35,000—less than half the state median of approximately $79,000—in 2018.
Black and Hispanic Neighborhood Is Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The residents of Parkside were 92% Black or Hispanic.
Newark/East Orange
Dozens of families in Springfield, Massachusetts, lost their homes—and all the savings they had built in those homes—because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Newark and East Orange, NJ, Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Two Newark and East Orange communities were hit hardest by home equity theft. The homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Low-Income Newark and East Orange, NJ, Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The Newark and East Orange communities hit hardest by home equity theft had low median household incomes. One area’s median household income was below $20,000.
Newark and East Orange, NJ, Communities with High Unemployment Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The Newark and East Orange communities hardest hit by home equity theft had unemployment rates at least five times the state average of 4%. One community’s rate was nearly 28%.
Black and Hispanic Newark and East Orange, NJ, Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In these communities, 97% of the residents were black or Hispanic.
New York
Ellenville/Otisville
Hundreds of families in Ulster and Orange counties lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Three communities—two in Ellenville (top) and one in Otisville (bottom left)—in these counties were hit hard with home equity theft. The homes taken were sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Communities with Both High and Low Unemployment Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average unemployment rate of over 9% in Ellenville in 2018 but just 3% in Otisville.
Lower- and Higher-Income Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft in Ellenville had an average median household income of less than $45,000, whereas Otisville’s was almost $85,000.
Minority and Nonminority Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In two of these communities—one in Ellenville and Otisville—more than 33% of the residents were Black or Hispanic, on average. But in one community in Ellenville, only 6.5% of residents were minorities.
Hoosick Falls/Petersburgh/Berlin
Dozens of families in communities in Rensselaer County lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Four communities—two in rural east Rensselaer County, one in Hoosick Falls (top right), and one between Wynantskill and West Sand Lake (bottom right)—were hit hard with home equity theft.
Middle-Income Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of nearly $63,000—close to the state average of about $65,000—in 2018.
Educated Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had rates of college attainment of almost 40%—greater than the state average of 36%—in 2018.
Nonminority Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The hardest-hit communities’ residents were 1% Black or Hispanic, on average.
Olean/Randolph
Hundreds of families in communities in Cattaraugus County lost their homes and all the savings they built in those homes because of state-sanctioned home equity theft.
Communities with the Most Home Equity Theft
Thirteen communities in Cattaraugus County were hit hard with home equity theft. In two communities—one in Olean (bottom right) and one in Randolph (bottom left)—for every 100 homes, more than 2 were taken and sold without a penny of equity going back to the former owners.
Nonminority Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In these communities, 4% of the residents were Black or Hispanic.
Lower-Income Communities Are Hurt by Home Equity Theft
The communities hardest hit by home equity theft had an average median household income of approximately $47,000—less than the state average of approximately $65,000—in 2018.
Lower Educational Attainment in Communities Hurt by Home Equity Theft
In the communities hardest hit by home equity theft, two out of five people had a high school degree but no college degree.
Resources
End Home Equity Theft Model Policy
Pueblo, CO One-Pager
Alton/Granite, IL One-Pager
Antioch/Waukegan, IL One-Pager
Chicago, IL One-Pager
Rockford, IL One-Pager
Springfield, IL One-Pager
Springfield, MA One-Pager
Duluth, MN One-Pager
Minneapolis, MN One-Pager
Mora, MN One-Pager
Camden, NJ One-Pager
Ellenville/Otisville, NY One-Pager
Hoosick Falls, NY One-Pager
Olean/Randolph, NY One-Pager