Washington giving $120k forgivable loans to non-white homebuyers

In a blatant display of unconstitutional “equity” in action, Washington state is giving $120k forgivable loans to non-white homebuyers.

Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) signed into law earlier this week the Second Substitute House Bill 1696, expanding the Covenant Homeownership Program, which was launched in 2024.

“This is great,” an excited Gov. Ferguson said at a news conference, thanking state Rep. Jamila Taylor (D) for her “leadership” in getting the measure passed.

BREAKING: Washington @GovBobFerguson just signed into law changes to the most outrageous, illegal reparations program in the entire country. It now GIFTS down payments, averaging $120,000, to black first-time homebuyers without ANY proof of direct housing discrimination. pic.twitter.com/dr0Xet0fHZ

— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) April 24, 2025

More from The Center Square:

The Covenant Home Ownership program offers home buying assistance to minorities who have faced housing discrimination in the past. The program is open to those who lived in or had a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent living in Washington before 1968 and who meet one of the following government-defined racial identities: “Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Korean and Asian Indian.”

Launched on July 1, 2024, the program allows qualified homebuyers to apply through their lenders for zero-interest loans to help fund down payments and closing costs. The loans are funded by fees on real estate documents recorded with the state.

The Covenant Homeownership Program was originally introduced by Taylor and she let it be known that this was just the beginning.

“Expanding this program is a step toward closing the homeownership gap between Black and white households in our state,” Taylor said, according to the House Democrats’ webpage. “It’s not the only solution to the systemic inequities caused by centuries of discrimination, but it is meaningful progress.”

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was quick to point out that this equity play was unconstitutional.

“The Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause prohibits this. It’s not even a close question. This is lawlessness,” the GOP senator posted on X.

The Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause prohibits this

It’s not even a close question

This is lawlessness https://t.co/ykeX0RPICm

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) April 24, 2025

The general consensus on social media seemed to be that Lee is correct — here’s a sampling of other responses to the blatant discrimination, as seen on X:

Revoke all federal funding if this is signed into law.

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 24, 2025

Basing home loans on race is illegal in the United States.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 prohibit discrimination in housing and lending based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.

This is…

— Old School Eddie (@Old_SchoolEddie) April 24, 2025

If there is a lawyer who wants to take the case, I know Jewish families who were red lined in Seattle who aren’t eligible for this and were used in the report that justified it

This bill is discriminatory

— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) April 24, 2025

This is blatantly illegal and violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Nobody can be discriminated against because of their skin color, this includes white and Asian people. IF this program exists, it has to be offered to everyone. @HarmeetKDhillon, there’s a problem.

— Savannah (@BasedSavannah) April 24, 2025

Isn’t this racial discrimination? What about all the poor white people who are no less advantaged than other black people?

This is the stench of social justice.

So glad I left the state even though I miss my friends, family, and natural beauty.

— MacJediKev ✝️  (@KevinLedgister) April 24, 2025

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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

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