Why affordable housing is kids’ stuff

By Charlie Allis, Habitat for Humanity Lakeside marketing intern

Habitat for Humanity Lakeside is now building its 53rd home, with Nos. 54 and 55 not far behind. By the time all 55 homes are completed, we will have helped put almost 100 children in a safe, decent, affordable, and stable home.

Here’s why that part of our mission matters more than ever.

Every child deserves a safe place to learn, laugh, and grow up. However, for many families, this expectation feels nearly impossible to meet. The average income in Wisconsin is about $50,000 a year, yet the income needed to purchase a home hovers around $87,000. Clearly, the American Dream is out of reach for many people. 

Lack of affordable, stable housing affects more than adults. Many studies show that lack of an affordable, safe home can directly affect a child’s health, both physically and mentally. 

Children who grow up in an unsafe or overcrowded home face a higher risk of severe health conditions or illness. Things such as lead paint, mold, and pests often contribute to health complications down the line for children who grow up in these conditions. Unsafe or overcrowded living conditions can also lead to both emotional and behavioral problems. Children who consistently move around often have an increased level of emotional stress. These conditions can interrupt a child’s social network, limiting their learning opportunities as well as their opportunities to meet new people and make friends.

Stable housing plays a key role in a child's academic success. These poor housing conditions are often located in struggling school districts, hindering the children’s academic potential. Constantly moving around can stop a child from becoming comfortable at their school, leading to both academic and mental struggles. It becomes a challenge for students to complete their work when they do not have a safe, quiet place to study. On the other hand, children who grow up in a stable home have a better chance to prosper academically and build the skills they need for future success.

Something as simple as a permanent home address can open countless opportunities for a family. Having a stable home address — that is, one that doesn’t change from year to year — enables families to reliably apply to jobs, open bank accounts, and receive mail. It allows children to more easily apply for college, scholarships, and financial aid. Having a permanent home address can directly benefit a family’s financial position, quality of life, education, and future. Having a permanent home also enables families to build generational wealth.

Affordable housing lets children to grow up as a part of a community, often providing them with better schooling and resources to help them succeed in the future. By being a part of a strong community, children often meet new people, learn valuable skills, and are provided with the resources to help children thrive. 
The importance of an affordable and stable place to live is undeniable, especially for children. The variety of external, physical, and psychological effects that unstable, overcrowded, and unsafe housing can cause for a child, as well as the rest of a family is clear.

​By obtaining affordable housing, a parent can help better their child’s mental and physical health both in the present and in the future, while reducing stress within the whole family and often helping bring them closer together.

Kewanna, the intended buyer for Habitat Lakeside’s 53rd home, and her children.