Housing and Education:
Access to stable affordable housing can greatly improve children’s performance in school as it gives them the much-needed sense of stability and security. Homeownership is very conducive to the academic success of children. Habitat of Humanity of San Antonio summarizes the impact that homeownership can have on children’s education by citing the following results of various studies:
“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
• Have 9% higher math scores
• Have 7% higher reading scores
• Have 3% fewer behavior problems and
• Save taxpayers an estimated $34,000
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Luke’s Church and Habitat partner for their first Wall Build
Image Credit: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
While these may seem like small steps to many, such community outreach and partnerships amongst non-profit organizations can prove to be very successful. To date, the wall build program has enlisted help from over 600 volunteers and has raised enough funds to build a new affordable housing unit in Newark!
Conclusion:
Housing not only provides shelter, but also contributes to the overall wellbeing of families, and in particular to the wellbeing of children. A home is a safe haven for a child that gives him or her a sense of security and belonging. Lack of stable and sustainable affordable housing is the underlying cause for many social issues among children such as asthma and poor performance in school. The housing crisis is a nationwide problem and in order to rectify the problem, we need a multipronged approach. The government, social service housing agencies, professional builders, residents, and community leaders must all work together to address this issue. Today, the dream of homeownership seems out of reach for many families across the nation and this is especially true for Newark residents. By leveraging the assets and strengths of the urban areas, we can help make this dream a