Written by Trent Sims on Friday, December 23rd 3:20 p.m.
As you may be aware, last night we dedicated three homes at Builders’ Circle. For supporters of Habitat, this is a time of celebration and relief that the job is finally done. After this moment, the volunteers don’t usually see what happens to the families down the road. They pick up their tool belts and move onto the next build.
However, homeownership is not just a means to an end. If our goal was just shelter, we could build rental units or a field of barracks. This wouldn’t be very personable but it would serve the goal of someplace warm to sleep.
Habitat for Humanity promotes homeownership because we believe that it has the power to fundamentally change someone’s situation. It provides stability for the families and something they can own in 20 years. This means no longer having to fear rent hikes or housing costs at retirement. It means a place that a family can call their own.
All statistics from research compiled by the Cincinnati office of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, April 2003 Homeownership Builds Successful Children
Compared to children of renters (of the same age, income, race, etc.), children of homeowners:
- Are 25% more likely to graduate from high school
- Are 116% more likely to graduate from college
- Are 20% less likely to become teenage mothers
- Have 9% higher math scores
- Have 7% higher reading scores
- Have 3% fewer behavior problems
- Are 59% more likely to own a home within 10 years of moving from parent’s household
- Save taxpayers an estimated $34,000 in public expenditures (i.e. the cost of juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, etc.) that would have been spent had they remained in rented housing.
However you interpret the numbers, we believe that homeownership can have a heavy correlation on the success of the next generation. If anything it makes life easier for that individual household.
Thank you for this year’s support of Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, MO. The next year looks promising. Contributions from Federal Home Loan Bank in Des Moines mean 50 repair projects for homeowners in need. We will also be working on completing 6 homes in Legacy Trails by May. Enjoy your holidays and time with friends and family. Don’t forget to check on us in the New Year. I am sure we will need your help on the job site.
