In the heart of Detroit’s neighborhoods, countless homes stand not just as structures, but as repositories of memories and stories passed down from generation to generation. Often known as “Big Momma’s” or “Grandma’s house,” these abodes embody familial legacies, bearing witness to holiday gatherings, life lessons, and traditions. However, many Black families in Detroit, while inheriting the memories of these homes, have also inherited the challenges of unpaid bills and complicated land ownership scenarios.
Tuesday, the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) marked a poignant milestone in its mission to address this very challenge. Celebrating the successful completion of the Buy Back program by 135 Detroiters, the DLBA has now reinstated the ownership of over 1,000 homes to their rightful heirs since the program’s initiation in 2016.
By enrolling in the Buy Back program, residents of homes once owned by the land bank are offered a chance at reclaiming their generational houses. A commitment of $1,000, coupled with a year of homeownership education, can pave the way for Detroiters to ensure legacies continue to flourish.
Launched in 2016, the Buy Back program was conceived to provide an anchor to the city’s residents, especially those who have long resided in Land Bank-owned houses. It became a beacon of hope, particularly for those who had been victims of housing crises – whether through foreclosure, real estate fraud, or unscrupulous landlords.
2023 Buy Back homeowner Emoni Davey.
Emoni Davey, one of the proud homeowners of 2023, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, reflecting on her journey, “Working with the land bank was a great experience. I’ve always dreamed of being a homeowner. This process has not only given me a home but ignited a passion within, driving me to enroll in trade school for home repairs.”
And for Pratiss Talton, the journey was bittersweet. Owning her childhood home, only to lose her mother during the refurbishing process, is a testament to the myriad of emotions that connect Detroiters to their homes.
“It was a joy buying my childhood home back, it was a great feeling to be able to help remove a blighted home. I wanted to be together with my mom, but while I was finishing the home, my mom was called “Home” to be with the Lord,” said Talton. “It’s a great feeling to get my deed in my hand and so joyful to know I’ll never have to be homeless ever again. I am forever grateful.”
For many in the Black community, the Buy Back program resonates profoundly. Homeownership is not just about a physical space; it’s a generational asset, an anchor of stability, and a cornerstone of community building. Amidst a historical backdrop where Black communities have often been disenfranchised from the dream of homeownership, the DLBA’s initiative is more than a program; it’s a restoration of rights, dreams, and dignity.
Detroit Land Bank Authority CEO, Tammy Daniels, affirmed this commitment, “Surpassing 1,000 successful homeowners is a big milestone for the DLBA, too. No other land bank is doing what we are doing at this scale, but there are still about 1,800 land bank-owned houses in the city with folks living in them. We need them to come forward and work with us to see if they qualify for Buy Back or if we can connect them with City’s Housing and Revitalization Department for wrap-around support services that the DLBA isn’t equipped to provide.”
Mayor Mike Duggan, Buy Back Homeowner Robbie Eddins and Detroit Land Bank Authority CEO Tammy Daniels.
Partners like Citizens Bank, 5/3 Bank, and local non-profits have been instrumental in ensuring that the program isn’t just about keys and deeds. It’s about laying the foundation for sustained homeownership through financial literacy, workshops, and one-on-one counseling.
Eligibility for the program ensures that those who genuinely have connections and stakes in the property get a chance to claim it as their own, ensuring that the roots planted in Detroit soil remain deep and unshaken.
Mayor Duggan encapsulated the essence of the initiative, stating, “The Detroit Land Bank’s Occupied Buy Back program has been an absolute life changer for more than 1,000 families and counting,” said Mayor Duggan. “These are families that have been through some struggles with housing and now have earned the opportunity to own their own home. Thanks to their own hard work, they now have the stability that comes with homeownership and the ability to build generational wealth as property values across Detroit continue to rise.”
Currently, 48 more participants are on their journey towards homeownership. For those living in DLBA-owned houses and wish to understand or be part of this transformation, the DLBA awaits your stories. Occupants currently living in DLBA-owned houses are encouraged to come forward and contact the organization directly by emailing buyback@detroitlandbank.org or by calling 313-974-6869. More information about how to participate is available at buildingdetroit.org/buy-back.
Detroit, through initiatives like these, reminds us that community isn’t just about shared spaces, but shared dreams, aspirations, and a relentless spirit of overcoming. With the Buy Back program, the city doesn’t just reclaim homes; it reclaims its heartbeat within the people of Detroit.
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