Yes! Let’s say that someone gave a poor Black family a house worth $100k, in a nice neighborhood. That family moves from a “poor” neighborhood and into their new “free” house. The value of the house is subject to a gift tax by the IRS, at about 45%. It is due immediately. The value of the house is considered Income and it is now used to END all the other support programs they are used to getting. Almost immediately they need to begin to maintain the yard and house to keep it livable. They must now also pay the utilities that are higher than in their previous location, and there is NO government program pay them, now. They will also find no public transportation within walking distance. Property taxes and garbage pickup fees, are soon due.
So they quickly learn that “White Priviledge” is very expensive. And it means that they can’t return to their previous government supported lifestyle, in the new “Free” house. Very soon, the IRS, and the unpaid Property Taxes will have their “Free” House up for auction.
When they try to return to Section 8 housing, the waiting list is 18 months long.
Yes, it’s the fault of that “Free” house that has caused them to have such a horrendous Life. Aside from the Income taxes and property taxes, and higher utility bills, and garbage bills, and maintenance costs, and no public transportation; they have it made! Until a storm comes through and a tree limb breaks a window, and they don’t have insurance to pay the $1400 to repair it. The Neighborhood Association is dropping little reminders in the mail, that they haven’t paid the annual dues, and there is now a fine for the unkept yard and the dead vehicle parked in the yard.
Welcome to Easy Street, isn’t White Priviledge great? All you need is a good paying job. Something around $45,000 a year will just barely allow you to keep the house and budget tightly. It would be even easier if you got a $75,000 a year job. Wait, what’s that... you didn’t finish high school? To have that kind of job requires a College Degree with real potential. Damn White Priviledge, it just isn’t fair how those White folks have it so easy.
I’ve told co-workers who want promotions to supervisory positions (for more money, not additional work) that they should be careful what they wish for; those other supervisors they view with envy are often very unhappy (but marginally wealthier) people. The added responsibilities take a toll; heck, now many young white people today don’t want to deal with the responsibilities of home ownership.
This was a big issue in Newark because county and state aid had been used to keep property taxes low, and new constructions (in better areas of the city) were being taxed heavily. These homes (which were never built anyway) would have had much higher taxes than old ones across the street. The whole program basically demonstrated that the city can’t even give land away; nobody wants to become a new target to be milked by the neighboring gibsmedats.
They are also trying to entice people working in the city (especially teachers) to buy there; I don’t see that happening either. It just isn’t safe, and nobody wants to line up to pay for services for so many of the city’s residents that steadfastly refuse to lift a finger to contribute anything.