District 10 Como Community Council

St. Paul Joins Just Deeds Coalition

St. Paul Joins Just Deeds Coalition

This week, the City of Saint Paul joined the Just Deeds coalition to help home and property owners discharge discriminatory racial covenants on their property deeds. 

Just Deeds is a collaborative effort between community groups, attorneys, and government agencies to identify and remove racial covenants on property deeds in Minnesota. In the early 20th century, racial covenants were a common practice that placed legal agreements on property deeds that prohibited the sale or lease of property to African Americans and other people of color. They were also used to maintain segregation and prevent the integration of neighborhoods.  

While they are now illegal and unenforceable, the language of these covenants remains a painful reminder of the racist policies that have shaped Saint Paul’s history. 

You can learn more about Racial Covenants, including how to see if your property has one and how to apply to discharge it from your deed, here on the city’s website.

Last year, D10 hosted a presentation from a group from St. Kates who were researching the impact of racial covenants and other types of housing discrimination on demographic and economic outcomes including upward mobility. You can view the recording here.