Exploring gentrification and homeownership with CFA's Sharon Cornelissen

Exploring gentrification and homeownership with CFA's Sharon Cornelissen

From Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing by National Housing Conference

February 17, 2026 · 57 min · Season 3 · Episode 4

About this episode

David Dworkin interviews Sharon Cornelissen about her book on gentrification and the experiences of Black homeowners.

I n this week's episode, NHC President and CEO David Dworkin sits down with Sharon Cornelissen, Director of Housing at the Consumer Federation of America, and author of Last House on the Block: Black Homeowners, White Homesteaders, and Failed Gentrification in Detroit Cornelissen joins NHC President and CEO David Dworkin to discuss her new book, which explores what happens when White newcomers move into predominantly Black neighborhoods, challenges assumptions about whether gentrification is inevitable, and focuses on the lived experiences of long-term Black homeowners navigating neighborhood change.

People in this episode

Host: David Dworkin

Guest: Sharon Cornelissen

Topics covered

  • gentrification
  • homeownership
  • Black neighborhoods
  • neighborhood change
  • long-term homeowners

Keywords

  • gentrification
  • homeownership
  • Detroit
  • Black homeowners
  • neighborhood change
  • CFA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Consumer Federation of America

Books & works: Last House on the Block: Black Homeowners, White Homesteaders, and Failed Gentrification in Detroit

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