Owning a home can change a families landscape.
Virtually nowhere in the U.S. can a full-time minimum wage employee afford even a one-room apartment. At Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity, we know that a decent home changes everything.
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The need for affordable housing is immense, and the lasting impact it can have on families is undeniable. We believe in a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Housing is central to ending the cycle of poverty and can play a key role in positively influencing a family’s education, employment, and health opportunities. A safe, decent, and affordable home offers families and individuals the opportunity to care for themselves and build their futures.
Homes Matter, Heres Why
Improving affordable homeownership leads to:
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Greater economic stability
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Access to quality education
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Increased civic and social engagement
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Better health
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Reduced environmental footprint
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Residential instability affects educational outcomes across all stages of childhood. Children from households with low incomes who move more than once in the early elementary years experience negative reading and math achievements that have long-lasting effects.
There are several barriers to accessing affordable homeownership, and one of them is high demand at lower-priced tiers. Did you know in 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated a need for 2.5 million additional housing units to meet long-term housing demand?
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Low-income households and households of color have limited access to homeownership because of barriers such as a limited supply of affordable housing, restricted access to credit, and systemic inequities. For those low-income households and households of color, homeownership can be a catalyst to generational wealth building.
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Poor housing conditions and the lack of affordable housing are associated with negative health outcomes. Households with a housing cost burden — those spending more than 30% of their income on housing — often face difficult spending decisions and sacrifice purchasing food and health care to afford housing.
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Black and Hispanic/Latino households face unique barriers to homeownership that prevent access to the beneficial outcomes associated with homeownership, such as wealth building, improved health, and higher educational attainment.
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