AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BECOME A CAMPAIGN ISSUE IN THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT BUT DISPARITIES IN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IS NOTHING NEW TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

IT CAN BE USEFUL TO LOOK BACK AT HOW WE GOT HERE.

THE LATEST IN OUR DIGITAL SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS EXPLORES THE HISTORY OF REDLINING AND ITS ORIGINS HERE IN CHICAGO.

TO THIS DAY.

CHICAGOANS LIVE IN A FAIRLY SEGREGATED CITY WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BLACK POPULATION LIVING ON THE CITY'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

THE LATINO POPULATION ON THE WEST AND NORTHWEST SIDES IN THE WHITE POPULATION ON THE NORTH AND THAT SEGREGATION DIDN'T HAPPEN BY COINCIDENCE.

BUT BY DESIGN, IT DATES BACK TO A TIME WHEN BLACKS WERE PREVENTED FROM BUYING HOMES, NOT ONLY BY REAL ESTATE AGENTS WHO STEERED PERSPECTIVE BLACK BUYERS TO BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT ALSO BY BANKS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED REDLINING.

WHAT SIMPLY REDLINING IS THE ACTIVE DENYING PEOPLE ACCESS TO CREDIT BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

AND THEY ARE EVEN IF THEY'RE QUALIFIED BORROWERS.

SO HOW DID EARLY TO MID 20TH CENTURY CHICAGO NEWS REDLINING TO DENY MANY BLACKS FROM ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM.

HERE'S CHICAGO.

CIRCA THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY COLOR CODED BY THE FEDERAL HOME OWNERS, LOAN CORPORATION AND FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION TO INDICATE WHERE IT WAS SAFE TO LAND AND INSURE MORTGAGES.

THE AREA'S COLOR-CODED GREEN OR BLUE INDICATED NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A OR B RATINGS CONSIDERED THE BEST OR DESIRABLE AREAS FOR THEM TO ENSURE A MORTGAGE A YELLOW OR C RATING MEANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DECLINING RED WERE DEEMED MEANT HAZARDOUS, AS YOU CAN GUESS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS RATE RED WERE LARGELY BLACK AND DEEMED TOO RISKY TO INSURE MORTGAGES.

A 1940 APPRAISERS MAP REFERS TO SOME RED LINES.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS AS VIRTUALLY 100% OVERCROWDED AND LIGHTED ANOTHER NOTES AND INCREASING ENCROACHMENT OF FOR THE MORE BLACKS WERE OFTEN PREVENTED FROM MOVING INTO NEW DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES DUE TO RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS OR CLAUSES.

PIONEERED BY CHICAGO REALTY GROUP'S EXPLICITLY PROHIBITING BLACKS FROM PURCHASING THAT PROPERTY.

THE INABILITY TO GET FEDERALLY INSURED HOME MORTGAGES MADE BLACKS VULNERABLE TO PREDATORS, USE OPEN HOUSE IS ON CONTRACT, GIVING THE ILLUSION OF A MORTGAGE WITH NONE OF THE NORMAL PROTECTIONS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENACTED THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IN 1968.

JUST DAYS AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING REDLINING WAS MADE ILLEGAL IN THE BARRIERS STARTED TO COME UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT CONTAINED FEW PROVISIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO IN MANY WAYS, READING OF SEGREGATION REMAINS AND YOU