What Is Parity Homes All About?
Parity Homes is an equitable development company proudly based in West Baltimore. The mission? To acquire and rehabilitate abandoned properties by the block, turning them into affordable home ownership opportunities. It all started as a response to the gentrification and displacement hitting their hometown hard. Instead of watching neighborhoods get pushed out and changed beyond recognition, Parity Homes decided to do development differently—without displacement, and with ownership creation right at the heart of it.
The Main Benefit: Building Ownership and Community
At its core, Parity Homes is about more than just buildings. It’s about people, history, and opportunity. Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Historical Lens: They dig deep into the past, understanding wealth and housing gaps through the history of discrimination and segregation.
- Anti-Displacement: Protecting existing residents, making sure development doesn’t push people out but enriches their lives.
- Home Ownership: Creating real chances for folks to build roots and generate wealth in their own neighborhoods.
Looking Through a Historical Lens
Parity Homes doesn’t just see boarded-up buildings or empty lots. Nope, they see a neighborhood rich with history—a place that once thrived with culture, community, and opportunity. The project acknowledges the deep scars left by systemic inequities like redlining, housing segregation, and economic discrimination. It’s about understanding the past to build a better future. That historical lens is key to how they approach every block, every home, every family.
Protecting and Enriching Existing Residents
One of the toughest challenges in urban development is avoiding displacement. Parity Homes tackles this head-on. Instead of pushing out longtime residents, they focus on protecting and enriching the wellbeing of those already living in the neighborhood. The goal? To make sure that as the area improves, the people who call it home can stay, thrive, and benefit from the changes happening around them.
The Neighborhood: A Rich Cultural Tapestry
The project is launching in one of Baltimore’s most culturally rich and historic African American neighborhoods. This community was once a vibrant mix of working-class families and skilled professionals—doctors, lawyers, business owners—all living side by side. Churches and local businesses flourished, and the neighborhood boasted some of the city’s most generous parks and green spaces. It was a place full of life and promise.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – revitalizing neighborhoods without displacement.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – addressing historic housing and economic disparities.
- SDG 1: No Poverty – creating affordable home ownership opportunities.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – supporting local economies and jobs.
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – fostering stable, healthy communities.
Restoring Neighborhoods to Their Former Glory
For decades, this neighborhood flourished—until the early 1940s brought a perfect storm of challenges: redlining, segregation, job losses, and the drug epidemic. These forces hit Black communities nationwide, and this neighborhood was no exception. But Parity Homes sees beyond the boarded-up buildings and empty streets. They see a community with deep roots, rich culture, and untapped potential. The vision? To restore these neighborhoods to what they once were—and maybe even better.
