113121

#CostOfHome Campaign

Because of increased housing costs and growing income inequality, nearly one-third of households in the United States face cost burdens, with housing requiring either 30 percent of their income (cost-burdened) or 50 percent (severely cost-burdened). These burdens leave more than 38 million households with little income to afford the cost of food, health care and other basic necessities. With nearly 19 million severely cost­burdened households in the U.S., advocating for affordable housing for homeowners and renters is as important as ever.

Families all across the United States are paying too high a price to cover the cost of their home. Rent and homeownership costs are skyrocketing, while wages are not keeping pace. Far too often, families struggle to make ends meet. Everywhere you look—cities, suburbs, rural areas—the stability that a home should bring remains out of reach for far too many families. At Habitat for Humanity, we know that a family should never have to spend more than 30 percent of their income on a home. Yet today, nearly 19 million U.S. households pay half or more of their income on a place to live.

That is unacceptable.

That means that 1 in 6 families are denied the personal and economic stability that safe, decent and affordable housing provides. Instead, these families are forced to make impossible choices.

Safe homes. Nutritious food on the table. Health care. Access to good schools. Reliable transportation.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Through our first U.S. advocacy campaign, Habitat for Humanity is addressing the need for affordable housing by promoting policies that support expanding resources for affordable home production, increasing inclusive access to credit, enabling equitable access to land, and developing communities of opportunity. Learn more at habitat.org/about/advocacy.

Need

Dallas Habitat for Humanity knows that safe, decent and affordable shelter plays a critical role in helping families createlives filled with possibility and progress. Caught in cycles of unpredictable rent increases, overcrowded conditions, or lack of access to land and affordable housing, many families live with a constant burden of uncertainty, stress and fear. Dallas Habitat for Humanity serves as a voice for people in need of decent housing by working to change laws and shape policies that affect access to housing. Our advocacy approach is based on decades of on-the-ground experience and policy expertise. In our deep understanding of housing and its role in providing opportunities for families, we seek to reform laws in a nonconfrontational, nonpartisan way.

Impact

  • Every Dollar that Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity generates $3.18 of regional economic activity
  • Dallas Habitat’s new home construction has added almost $100 million in value to Dallas County Property Tax rolls
  • According to the Central Appraisal District (DCAD) 93% of Habitat Homes were classified as being in excellent, very good or good condition
  • Since 2010, Dallas Habitat has Built all of its new homes to LEED standards. The average energy savings of a three bedroom home is 10%-12% and 21%-22% for a two bedroom home. That savings translates to about 1 ton of carbon dioxide air pollution per year, per home.
  • 60% of Dallas Habitat survey responders saw positive changes in children’s school performance

Cost of Home Advocacy Campaign

Your home shouldn’t cost you anywhere near half your paycheck. Your home shouldn’t cost you your health. Your home shouldn’t cost you your kids’ education. When the cost of a home is your family’s future, the cost is too high. That’s something none of us can afford.

We know the complexities that surround the cost of a home. We also know the struggle, stress and pain that far too many families face in our communities. And we recognize that those with the fewest resources are often forced to make the hardest choices. The time has come to take a stand and declare our commitment: Habitat for Humanity will work to ensure that no family has to pay more than half of their paycheck to cover the cost of a home.

Over the next five years, we are committed to mobilizing our local Habitat organizations, our partners, our volunteers and community members across the country to identify solutions and help implement the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs. Everyone deserves the opportunity to build the foundation for a strong, healthy future for themselves and their families — no matter where they live or how much money they earn. Every family deserves the chance to thrive.

You can help us make that possible. Together, we can make the #CostOfHome something we all can afford.

Learn more

To learn more about Habitat’s advocacy, visit habitat.org/about/advocacy

Sources:

2018 State Housing Profiles. National Low Income Housing Coalition. http://nlihc.org/library/shp. (2018). National and State Housing Fact Sheets and Data. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/national-and-state-housing-factsheets-data. (2017). Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. http://nlihc.org/oor. (2018).Renter Cost Burdens, States. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/ARH_2017_cost_burdens_by_state_total (2017). The State of the Nation’s Housing 2018. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Harvard_JCHS_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2018.pdf (2018).