The Correlation Between Racial Inequality and Rent Stabilization Apartments in New York City

The federal, state, and local governments have enacted policies to address housing issues in New York City. But have African Americans and Latinos benefited from these policies? To explore this, we conduct a case study of the history of rent-stabilization policy and use data from New York City agencies to contextualize these developments. We also apply Claire Jean Kim’s racial hierarchy framework to examine how White supremacy has shaped housing policy and its effects on communities of color. Our analysis shows that African American and Latino communities face disadvantages both in the number of rent-stabilized units and in access to them. These findings highlight how racial hierarchies influence housing outcomes, resulting in systemic advantages for White residents relative to communities of color.