# Who are We Building For? | Rayna Milfort | TEDxOvertown Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANPhEe4IN-w Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/ANPhEe4IN-w Generated: 2026-01-13T17:40:29.684+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Rayna Milfort argues that achieving true equity in housing and community development requires centering the lived experiences of Black women, who disproportionately bear the burden of instability, by shifting focus from mere production to policies and budgets that prioritize preservation and support for those most impacted. **Key Points:** - Rayna Milfort is the Director of Housing Advocacy and Community Engagement at Miami Homes For All, an immigrant Black woman from Haiti who experienced housing insecurity firsthand. - Over 60% of renters in Miami-Dade spend more than a third of their income on housing, and 53% of Black households in Miami-Dade live in poverty or below the Alice threshold. - The speaker cites examples like Jamie, a first responder working two jobs who cannot afford rent, and Delores, a community garden owner struggling to feed her neighbors while facing rent increases. - Milfort challenges the definition of progress, stating it is not just building more, but building smarter, fairer, and together. - She calls for policies and budgets that reflect lived experience, prioritizing preservation and supporting the backbone of the community—Black women, single mothers, and caregivers. - Her challenge is for the audience to show up, ask critical questions at county commission meetings about housing dollars, and push back against the idea that displacement is inevitable. ![Screenshot at 00:07: Speaker Rayna Milfort is introduced on the TEDxOvertown stage with the talk title, "Who are We Building For?", setting the stage for her advocacy message on equitable housing.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-00-07.jpg) **Context:** Rayna Milfort, Director of Housing Advocacy and Community Engagement at Miami Homes For All, delivers a TEDxOvertown talk titled, "Who are We Building For?". Drawing from her personal experience as a Black immigrant woman from Haiti who navigated housing instability, she critiques current development practices that fail to serve the most vulnerable populations, specifically Black women who are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. ## Detailed Analysis Rayna Milfort opens by introducing herself as a Black, immigrant woman from Haiti who has dedicated her life to housing advocacy and community engagement, personally understanding the realities of survival and resilience. She immediately highlights the severity of the housing crisis in Miami-Dade, noting that over 60% of renters spend more than a third of their income on housing, and 53% of Black households live in poverty or below the Alice threshold. Milfort shares personal anecdotes to illustrate this struggle: Jamie, a first responder working two jobs who still cannot afford rent near her station, and Delores, a community garden owner who cannot afford her own rent while trying to feed her community. She argues that these are not just statistics; they are real people carrying immense burdens. Milfort challenges the current definition of progress, asserting that it should not merely be about building more, but about building smarter, fairer, and together. She calls for a shift in policy and budgeting to center the needs of Black women, single mothers, and caregivers—the backbone of the community—who are currently being crushed by systems that make survival an uphill battle. Her call to action is for the audience to actively participate by showing up to city and county commission meetings, questioning how housing dollars are spent, and advocating for policies that ensure Black residents, especially those in historically Black neighborhoods like Overtown, have the right to stay and thrive, rather than accepting displacement as inevitable. ### Introduction and Personal Context - Rayna Milfort introduces herself as a Black immigrant housing advocate from Haiti - She emphasizes that her work is informed by lived experience navigating survival and resilience - She highlights the personal toll of housing instability. ### The Scope of the Crisis in Miami-Dade - Over 60% of renters spend over one-third of income on housing - 53% of Black households live in poverty or below the Alice threshold - Examples like Jamie (two-job first responder) and Delores (community garden owner facing rent hikes) illustrate the human cost. ### Redefining Progress and Equity - Progress is not just building more, but building smarter and fairer - Equity must be centered around the most impacted people, not abstract policies or budgets - The current system forces Black women to carry the burden of community support while struggling themselves. ### Call to Action for Systemic Change - Challenge the idea that displacement is inevitable - Support leaders on the ground like Tenant Councils and Non-profits - Use platforms (work, church, social media) to amplify the voices of those fighting for their homes - Demand policies and budgets that prioritize preservation and belonging for Black residents in neighborhoods like Overtown. ![Screenshot at 00:01: The opening title slide for the TEDxOvertown event featuring "360 PERSPECTIVES" and the speaker's name and talk title.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-00-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:06: Speaker Rayna Milfort standing on the red circular mat on stage against the dark backdrop with the TEDxOvertown branding.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-00-06.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:39: Milfort gestures while detailing her background as a Black woman, immigrant from Haiti, and housing advocate.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-00-39.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:30: Milfort emphasizes that housing disparities are understood firsthand, not just through reports.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-01-30.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:32: Milfort presents a statistic: Miami-Dade is the most cost-burdened metro area in the US, with over 60% of renters paying over a third of income for housing.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANPhEe4IN-w/00-02-32.jpg)