DETROIT, MI — Reparation Generation (RepGen) is reopening its Home Ownership Reparative Transfer Grant Program (HORT) in Metro Detroit on August 1, 2026 after its winter pause. The HORT Program provides $25,000 non-repayable grants as well as homebuyer, financial and genealogy consultations to Black Descendants of Enslaved People in the U.S. who live in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb counties who agree to purchase a home in the region as their primary residence.
The HORT program is a model that demonstrates reparations in action. It’s rooted in the United Nations Reparations Framework and aims to deliver partial compensation, restoration and satisfaction for the harm experienced by Black Descendants of Enslaved People in the U.S. who, historically and presently, face systemic barriers—and, in some cases, outright exclusion—from homeownership. RepGen imagines and demonstrates reparative models to help create empirical learnings that show repair and healing are possible and to inspire and inform reparations program development across society.
HORT Program participants engage in RepGen’s education and reparative impact evaluation activities during and for two years following the program. Participant experience and input guides ongoing program adjustments. Each round moves RepGen closer to a replicable and scalable model. The evaluation learnings are shared publicly via RepGen’s website, Annual Impact Report, newsletters, and events and with interested policymakers and Reparations Movement leaders.
Since 2022, RepGen has transferred $450,000 in reparative grants to 18 participants in Metro Detroit through the HORT program, with significant benefits reported by recipients, including greater stability and security, sense of belonging, proximity to community resources, civic engagement and generational pride.
“We’re not just asking or waiting for the government to act, said Karen Hughes, RepGen Co-Manager for Programs, at a recent private fundraising event. “We’re imagining and demonstrating program models for repair, healing and wealth-building pursuits. The demonstrations generate immediate benefits as well as rich learning.”
The HORT Program application window will be open Aug 31-Sept 11, 2026.
All potential applicants must attend a one hour online orientation during August 2026 for a detailed walk-through of eligibility, application, selection and enrollment requirements and process. There are seven (7) orientations scheduled in August:
- Tuesday, August 4 | 7:00–8:00 PM ET
- Saturday, August 8 | Noon–1:00 PM ET
- Wednesday, August 12 | 7:00–8:00 PM ET
- Thursday, August 20 | 7:00–8:00 PM ET
- Saturday, August 22 | Noon–1:00 PM ET
- Tuesday, August 25 | 7:00–8:00 PM ET
- Friday, August 28 | Noon–1:00 PM ET
Realtors and lenders who serve the Metro Detroit Area and wish to be included on the Resource List provided to HORT Program applicants and enrollees must attend an online orientation to ensure they understand the program’s reparative purpose and activities and will support homebuyers accordingly.
Potential HORT Program applicants, lenders, and realtors can find the links to register for one of the online orientations here.
Applicants are provided free Restorative Genealogy Consultations and documentation to confirm program eligibility.
RepGen is seeking to raise $250,000 by August 31 to fund ten additional reparative grants. Individuals and institutions interested in making financial contributions for this purpose are encouraged to visit www.reparationgeneration.org.