Our Work

Homeownership has traditionally served as a primary avenue for wealth accumulation among Canadian households. However, many Black Canadians still face barriers to homeownership, particularly in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA). With homeownership rates among Black households within the Toronto CMA remaining the lowest at 38.9%, compared to 62.3% for racialized groups and 67.9% for non-racialized groups, a significant economic disparity persists. This gap impedes the intergenerational transfer of wealth for Black households, exacerbating existing economic inequalities.

This study promotes improved access to homeownership for Black Canadians as part of a broader effort to confront systemic anti-Black racism in societal and institutional frameworks. Achieving this goal requires comprehensive governmental policies and investments, as well as reforms within the real estate sector, to address and raise awareness of the obstacles confronting potential Black homeowners. Additionally, community-level investments are crucial to empower Black and other racialized groups to participate in wealth accumulation through the housing market, fostering intergenerational prosperity and socioeconomic equity.

The Black Experiences with Planning in Canada (BEPIC) partnership seeks to learn from the lived experiences of Black communities and planners in order to explore how planning can play a role in creating more equitable outcomes for Black communities, but also for diverse publics more broadly.

BEPIC is conceptualized by BPP with community and academic partners in the fields of planning, community building, and Black studies, all of whom are committed to racial and spatial justice.

Building on the work already led by Black individuals, community organizations, planners, and other practitioners, BEPIC aims to help strengthen the capacity to remove barriers and advance equitable planning practices when working with Black populations.