Real estate policies and practices have entrenched racism and other social inequities in land use across the United States. The legacies of redlining, disinvestment, and environmental injustice continue to shape everything from residents’ health to economic opportunities. Black communities and communities of color have typically experienced the greatest degree of exclusion and marginalization, and so working toward social equity requires a focus on racial justice. In addition to racial injustices, a variety of other inequities exist and remain intertwined with the built environment. These include ability status, gender, socioeconomic status, and more, including their intersections. ULI’s 10 Principles for Embedding Racial Equity in Real Estate Development report shares 10 guiding ideas that can help developers, investors, and other practitioners make racial equity a central part of their real estate practice.

Further, as real estate and land use professionals seek to learn more about this history and work toward social equity, many resources are available. The Urban Land Institute has created a Social Equity Resource Hub to highlight educational resources and actionable guidance to empower real estate practitioners to foster social change at the personal, company, industry, and policy scales. The below resources from other organizations complement this list, providing additional information and perspectives.

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Housing and Land Use

Urban Planning and Design

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