By Kate Courter, Americorps Member & Resource Development Coordinator
Owning a house is so much more than holding the deed to 4 walls and a roof. Affordable homeownership helps create the conditions that free families from instability, stress and fear and encourages self-reliance and confidence. Studies show that strong and stable households are foundational to child development and growth. When a home fosters — instead of hinders — health and safety, families can flourish. Owning an affordable home also allows homeowners to lift up their entire family by saving for their futures and investing in educational opportunities — bolstering job opportunities and long-term career growth. While the tangible benefits of homeownership are what we work for everyday at Habitat for Humanity, we are also striving for the intangible moments that make a house into a home.
A home is a space to grow and share safely. A kitchen to cook family recipes in. A dining room table to work and learn from home in peace. A place to build memories and traditions. These moments are all the more precious at the holidays. Maria Puelo, our newest homeowner, knows this better than most. I got to speak to her recently about what being home for the holidays meant to her this year. In her words, it is “a humungously huge deal.” In past years, her sons spent holidays at relatives’ homes because they could not fit into their small apartment. But this year, they will celebrate all together in their own home. After 5 years they will finally have the space for a Christmas tree, stockings, and a kitchen they can cook in. During a year when so many of us will not be able to spend the holidays with their family, their home is more precious than ever.
Having a home this holiday season is a blessing, but a blessing that is growing increasingly out of reach for many. The rising prices of real estate coupled with the enormous debt many young people find themselves in is leaving even the more secure without options for homeownership. That is why Habitat for Humanity International launched Cost of Home, a 5 year advocacy program that mobilizes affiliates across the country to expand affordable housing to 10 million people through policy initiatives. While Habitat will support as many families as we can through our home building program, we cannot meet this need on our own. Change on the national, state, and county levels is the fastest and most effective way to meet the huge needs of the housing crisis. But that change does not happen on its own- it is fueled by grassroots work done by neighbors working with neighbors. In the case of housing justice, one voice does make a difference.
I encourage you to explore Cost of Home’s website to learn how your voice can help support families like Maria’s. From all of us all Habitat Montdelco we wish you and your families a happy and healthy holiday season.
Resources What is housing affordability?: https://www.habitat.org/costofhome/what-is-housing-affordability
Pennsylvania housing statistics: https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Pennsylvania-COH-2019.pdf Act now for housing: https://www.habitat.org/act-now-for-housing
Receive email updates from Cost of Home: https://habitatforhumanityinternational.salsalabs.org/costofhomeupdates/index.html
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