Lasting Effects of Redlining on the Des Moines Community
How a history of discriminatory mortgage lending practices have created a divided community
Upon first glance at the laid-back Des Moines, Iowa area, many people would consider it an ordinary mid-sized midwestern city with just over 200,000 people. Des Moines is gradually investing in revitalizing its downtown and drawing in new residents with its low cost of living. However, even with revitalization and investment, Des Moines’ communities of color continue to suffer from the effects of discriminatory housing policies.
Dr. Jane Rongerude, an expert in Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University, described redlining as “the practice of putting a line on a map that was red and saying, no, no mortgage lending here.”
Like in most American cities, discriminatory housing practices began in Des Moines following the Great Depression with the creation ...
