“…the right of the people… to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” —First Amendment, US Constitution
There is strong evidence indicating that decent, affordable housing reduces chronic disease, lowers stress, diminishes infectious disease and leads to improved physical and mental health.
Affordable housing frees up funds within tight family budgets for health care and quality food. To create a healthy community, we must have decent, affordable housing.
There is no state in the U.S. where a renter working full-time at minimum wage can afford a two-bedroom apartment. Seventy-five percent of all extremely low-income families are severely cost-burdened with more than half their income spent on housing.
Research proves that homeownership helps reduce intergenerational poverty and increase economic mobility and is a cost-effective strategy for reducing childhood poverty.
Record-breaking numbers of families cannot afford to purchase their first home, and the gap is widening. Families struggle to pay for groceries, doctor visits and general health and well-being.
Proven solutions to help families afford their first mortgage exist – What is missing is the political will to provide resources to put these solutions into practice in communities like ours.