Pryor urges Housing Task Force to address bias in appraisals

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) today shared a presentation with her fellow members of the Housing Task Force Interim Committee which explored the history of racial bias in the housing appraisal practice and how it harms African American Hoosiers and Hoosiers of color.

“While efforts have been made to tackle some areas in housing, the area of appraisals has pretty much gone untouched,” Pryor said during her presentation. “This is unfortunate because when racism rears its ugly head there is loss that is felt by those on the receiving end of racism.”

Pryor shared the example of a Black homeowner in Indianapolis who had her home appraised at a much lower level than she expected, only to have the value increased when they had a white friend pretend to be the homeowner.

“Racism in home appraising not only harms individuals in the short-term, but it harms them and their families in the long run by stripping them of opportunities to build generational wealth and robbing them of their piece of the American Dream,” Pryor said following her presentation. “We in the General Assembly need to act to ensure that Hoosiers have access to affordable housing and that racial bias has no impact on a person's livelihood and housing.”

Last year, Pryor authored House Bill 1326, which would have prohibited discriminatory lending and appraisal practices. The bill was referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and died in committee.