Empowering Black Teachers Through Affordable Housing

Affordable housing and homelessness

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Affordable housing in LA is a critical issue, especially for prospective teachers. The high cost of housing in urban areas like Los Angeles, combined with the financial burdens of the credentialing process, creates a new face of houselessness that is often overlooked. Prospective teachers, despite being in a respected profession, are increasingly vulnerable to housing insecurity. This instability affects their ability to focus on their studies and teaching responsibilities, and ultimately their success and retention in the profession. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles is over $2,900 per month. The Brookings Institute reports that only 17% of homes in California are affordable on the average teacher salary, highlighting the urgency of this issue. Addressing this now is crucial because stable housing is foundational for these aspiring teachers to complete their training, allowing them to positively impact the educational outcomes of Black and Latino students.

This grant will support The Watts of Power Foundation’s Village Initiative (TVI), which focuses on providing affordable housing for aspiring Black male teachers during TVI’s 2-year residency program. The Village Initiative is designed to remove housing insecurity as a barrier for aspiring Black male teachers in Los Angeles. We provide subsidized housing that ensures fellows only pay no more than $500 per month, significantly below the median rent in the area. This affordable housing solution allows them to focus on their teacher training without the distraction of financial strain. Our initiative includes a comprehensive 2-year residency program. In addition to their credentialing requirements, our fellows receive a stipend, professional development, mental health support, additional teaching opportunities, mentoring and financial literacy training and coaching to improve their credit, reduce debt, and save for a down payment, guiding them towards homeownership. TVI’s secret sauce is the integration of affordable housing with a robust support system that addresses both immediate housing needs and long-term financial stability, making it an effective solution to the problem of housing insecurity among prospective Black male teachers and ensuring they can focus on their professional growth and student success.

If our work is successful, LA County will see a significant reduction in housing insecurity among prospective Black male teachers, leading to a more stable and effective teaching workforce. By supporting Black male teachers in achieving homeownership, we will address historical disparities and create pathways to wealth and stability for these educators, transforming Los Angeles County into a more inclusive and equitable community. Short term, we aim to provide affordable housing and comprehensive support to 15 new fellows, ensuring they can focus on their training without financial strain. Long term, we plan to triple our capacity within five years. Expanding our partnerships with local colleges, school districts, and housing organizations, will lead to a more diverse and culturally competent educational workforce, benefiting students across the county. Ultimately, our initiative will contribute to greater racial equity in both the education and housing sectors.

The Village Initiative is an existing project, and we measure its impact through several key metrics. We track the number of fellows who complete the residency program, obtain their teaching credentials, and secure full-time teaching positions. Additionally, we monitor their housing stability during and after the program, improvements in financial literacy, and progress towards homeownership. Evidence of success includes the high retention rate of our fellows in the teaching profession and positive feedback from partner schools regarding the effectiveness and stability of our trained teachers. Our fellows have reported significant improvements in their financial stability and credit scores, moving them down the path towards homeownership. We will continue to evaluate the program through regular surveys, performance reviews, and tracking long-term career outcomes of our fellows.