Our case for support

According to UN-HABITAT, 40% of people around the world will live in inadequate housing by 2030 unless they receive assistance from the global community.

Over 37 million households in the U.S. pay more than 30% of their income on housing. More than 1 in 7 of these households pay more than 50% of their income on housing, according to the 2022 State of the Nation’s Housing report.

More than 1.65 million veterans are cost-burdened, meaning the cost of housing is more than 30% of their income, according to the Housing Assistance Council Veterans Data Center.

Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that 44% of U.S. households need step-free entrances and showers, lever-style handles, or other features to make homes accessible. Unfortunately, fewer than 4% of homes contain sufficient accessibility features for elderly residents or those with moderate mobility disabilities. Only 1% have adequate features for people with more severe disabilities, many of whom are elderly.

A 2021 AARP survey found that 77% of older Americans want to remain in their homes for the long term, and 34% recognize they may need to make physical changes to their house, such as modifying a bathroom or installing ramps in their homes.

At all income ranges, homeownership rates are lower for Black households than for white households. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the rate of Black homeownership is 45.3%, whereas the rate of white homeownership is 74.6%.

New construction with houses and sustainable work processes designed specifically for their local settings and using locally available materials.

Improving and repairing existing houses. In the U.S., this work is done as part of our neighborhood revitalization and disaster response efforts.

Working alongside the families who partner with us and ensuring that each family invests their time and effort into building their own home and the homes of others. This sweat equity can take many forms — from construction to working in a Habitat ReStore — and includes homeowner classes where families learn about their mortgage, insurance, maintenance, safety and more.

Advancing Black homeownership in the U.S., which we are co-developing with local Habitat affiliates, and continuing work in neighborhoods across the U.S. alongside residents and partner organizations to foster equitable, livable and sustainable communities through neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Advocacy, which advances access to adequate and affordably housing globally by changing policies and systems. This includes the Cost of Home campaign, which aims to make housing more affordable for 10 million people across the U.S., and aligning our work to support the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal 11.

In Greater Cleveland Habitat’s Homeownership Impact Survey, 65% of Habitat homeowners reported better physical health since purchasing their home.

In a 2021 homeownership impact survey, Chatham Habitat for Humanity in Pittsboro, North Carolina found that 80% of children’s grades improved after moving into their Habitat home, and that 41% of adults completed an educational or job training program since becoming Habitat homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley's 2021 Social Impact Study found that 94% of their homeowners now feel safe in their homes, and 98% said that owning a home improved how they felt about themselves.

A 2020 survey of Habitat Greater Sacramento’s first 100 families found that since receiving their Habitat home, 57% of families have more savings, 48% of families feel more connected to the community, and 0% of families previously on food stamps remained on food stamps.