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Our Story
Founded in 2019, IMPACT RI is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization aimed at helping underserved Rhode Islanders invest in their futures through real estate education. Our goal is to provide guidance to our students on the importance of education, entrepreneurship, and homeownership. We believe that an education in real estate can open doors, opportunities, and be used as an alternative tool for wealth-building.
Our Mission
Impact RI aids Rhode Island’s underserved individuals in realizing financial security and stable housing through education, training, and providing equal opportunity.
Our Vision
Every Rhode Island resident has a safe, affordable living environment with gainful employment opportunities. Barriers including racism, classism, and criminal injustice are dismantled.
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Your contributions will help us help Rhode Islanders attain financial security and stable housing through education, training, and providing equal opportunity to those in need. Your generous donation in any amount will go directly to helping fund our mission.
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Mission Not Impossible
IMPACT RI holds the concerns of marginalized communities with utmost importance. Our top priority is making education accessible to those who seek housing security and pathways to building wealth. We believe that every Rhode Islander deserves a safe, secure living environment, and stable financial income to sustain it.
Redlining & The 1934 Federal Housing Administration Act
"This highly discriminatory practice that restricts or denies access to loans, mortgages, and other financial resources based on race, class and location is popularly known as “redlining.”
As part of the New Deal, the Homeowners Loan Corporation (HOLC) was established to refinance home mortgages in danger of foreclosure, as well as to expand home buying opportunities. HOLC investments were predicated upon neighborhood risk assessments. Homes within neighborhoods considered to be high risks for loans were often “redlined” by real estate brokers, mortgage underwriters and lending institutions, denying home buyers access to capital investment within those communities.
In 1935, HOLC developed an investment map for the City of Providence that, not surprisingly, mainly identified neighborhoods of color as either “Hazardous or Declining,” including Fox Point, South Providence, West Elmwood, Lippitt Hill, and large sections of College Hill.
The FHA mortgage insurance and related programs continued its official policy of racial exclusion for decades. This policy was primarily directed towards African heritage home buyers and lower-income neighborhoods. Twenty-five years later, at a United States Senate Hearing on amending national housing laws, it was disclosed,
“FHA has continued to insure loans with the full knowledge that builders and developers were excluding racial and religious minorities. Even as far as production of segregated homes for minority families is concerned, the FHA record is a sorry one.”
Source: A Matter of Truth - The Struggle for African Heritage & Indigenous People Equal Rights in Providence, Rhode Island (1620-2020)
How Redlining Led to Environmental Injustice:
There is a direct correlation between systemic racism, such as redlining, and environmental justice issues. Redlining, a highly discriminatory practice that started in the 1930s, involved the denial of mortgages and other financial services to people living in certain neighborhoods, often predominantly African American or other minority communities. These neighborhoods were marked in red on maps by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), indicating them as high-risk areas for investment.
Concentration of Industry in Redlined Areas:
- Redlined neighborhoods, often marginalized and economically disadvantaged, became locations for industrial and waste facilities, as these areas were considered less valuable and residents had limited political power to oppose such developments.
- This led to higher exposure to pollutants, toxic waste, and poor air quality in these communities.
Lack of Investment in Infrastructure:
- Redlined areas suffered from disinvestment, resulting in poor infrastructure, inadequate housing, and limited access to green spaces. This neglect made these neighborhoods more vulnerable to environmental hazards, such as flooding and heat waves.
- Aging infrastructure in these areas, such as water systems, often leads to environmental health issues like lead contamination.
Limited Access to Environmental Benefits:
- Residents in redlined communities often have limited access to parks, clean water, and air, further exacerbating health disparities.
- The lack of green spaces and tree cover in these areas contributes to the urban heat island effect, where temperatures are significantly higher than in wealthier, greener neighborhoods.
Climate Change Vulnerability:
Communities that were redlined are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events. Poor housing and infrastructure, combined with lower socioeconomic status, make it harder for these communities to recover from environmental disasters.
Long-Term Impacts:
- Health Disparities:
- The environmental hazards in redlined areas have led to long-term health disparities, including higher rates of asthma, respiratory illnesses, and other chronic conditions.
- Economic and Social Inequality:
- The compounded effects of environmental injustice and economic disinvestment have perpetuated cycles of poverty and inequality in these communities.
Addressing the Issue:
- Environmental Justice Movements:
- Grassroots movements and advocacy groups have emerged to combat environmental racism and push for policies that address the historical injustices faced by redlined communities.
- Policy Changes:
- Some cities and states have begun to implement policies aimed at rectifying the environmental and health impacts of redlining, such as increasing investment in green spaces, improving infrastructure, and regulating industrial activities in these areas.
Addressing the Issue:
The correlation between redlining and environmental justice underscores the importance of addressing systemic racism as part of broader efforts to achieve environmental equity.
Disproportionate Environmental Impacts in Providence, RI
Low-income communities in Rhode Island, like in many other regions, often face disproportionate environmental impacts. Here are some of the key issues:
Proximity to Pollution Sources:
- Industrial Sites: Low-income communities in Rhode Island are often located near industrial sites, waste treatment plants, and landfills. This proximity increases exposure to pollutants, including hazardous chemicals, particulate matter, and toxins, which can have severe health impacts.
- Transportation Corridors: Many of these communities are also situated near major highways and transportation hubs, leading to higher levels of air pollution from vehicle emissions.
Access to Green Spaces :
- Limited Green Spaces: Low-income neighborhoods in Rhode Island tend to have fewer parks and green spaces, which are important for mental and physical health. The lack of green areas can lead to increased urban heat island effects, where temperatures are significantly higher than in surrounding areas.
- Environmental Degradation: In some cases, existing green spaces in these communities are poorly maintained or are subject to environmental degradation, further limiting their benefits.
Climate Change Vulnerability:
- Flooding and Sea Level Rise: Rhode Island’s coastal communities, some of which are low-income, are particularly vulnerable to flooding and sea-level rise caused by climate change. These areas often have inadequate infrastructure to cope with such events, leading to significant property damage and displacement.
- Extreme Weather: Low-income communities are less likely to have the resources to prepare for and recover from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or severe winter storms, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Health Disparities:
- Air Quality: Poor air quality, often exacerbated by proximity to industrial sites and highways, contributes to higher rates of asthma, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular diseases in low-income communities.
- Water Quality: There are concerns about water quality in some low-income areas, where aging infrastructure and contamination from nearby industrial activities can lead to unsafe drinking water.
Environmental Justice and Advocacy:
- Community Involvement: Environmental justice organizations in Rhode Island are working to address these disparities by advocating for policies that protect low-income communities from further environmental harm and by pushing for better regulations and enforcement of existing environmental laws.
- Policy Initiatives: Local and state governments are increasingly recognizing the need for environmental justice, though challenges remain in fully addressing these issues. Initiatives include improving public transportation, investing in green infrastructure, and enhancing emergency preparedness in vulnerable communities.
Addressing the Issue:
Addressing these environmental impacts requires a combination of policy intervention, community engagement, and long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure and environmental health protections.