For children, a safe and stable home is more than just a place to sleep, it’s the foundation for everything else in their lives, including how they perform in school and what kind of future they can imagine for themselves. When families have access to affordable, stable homeownership, the difference in a child’s life is profound.
Children in unstable housing situations, whether it’s frequent moves, overcrowding, or the constant threat of eviction, face much greater barriers to learning, relationship growth, and family functionality. Studies from the National Housing Conference show that students who move three or more times within a year are 59% more likely to repeat a grade. Every move disrupts learning, severs social ties, and increases stress for both the child and the parents. In contrast, when children grow up in a stable home, especially one their family owns, they are more likely to have better attendance, stronger grades, and improved behavior in school.
According to research from Habitat for Humanity, children of homeowners are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 116% more likely to graduate from college compared to children of renters. And additional research from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, children who live in homes their families own are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue higher education. In fact, homeownership during a child’s formative years increases the likelihood of high school graduation by 9%, and children of homeowners are 4% more likely to complete postsecondary education. That’s not just a number, it’s a life-changing opportunity.
Stability at home translates to consistency at school and social circles. Parents who own their homes are more likely to remain in the same neighborhood longer, meaning children are less likely to switch schools midyear. They are more likely to have a designated space to do homework and experience less anxiety about where they’ll be sleeping next month. This security creates room for children to focus, participate, and imagine a future beyond survival.
The benefits of ownership extend beyond school performance. Homeownership is also one of the most reliable ways for families to build generational wealth. For low and moderate-income families, owning a home, even a modest one, can be the first step toward financial stability. The equity built through homeownership can help fund college, launch a small business, or weather unexpected emergencies. This stability and upward mobility give children a greater chance to escape poverty and thrive as adults.
Unfortunately, many working families are still locked out of homeownership due to rising home prices and limited access to affordable options. That’s where innovative housing solutions, such as factory-built or manufactured homes, can offer real promise. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, the average cost of a new manufactured home (excluding land) is under $130,000, compared to over $430,000 for a new site-built home. These modern homes are safe, energy-efficient, and often located in well-planned, family-friendly communities.
Access to homeownership isn’t just about equity, it’s about opportunity. A child who has a safe, consistent place to grow up is more likely to succeed in school, more likely to believe in themselves, and more likely to build a future filled with possibility. When we invest in housing stability and create pathways to ownership, especially for first-time buyers, we’re investing directly in the next generation.
If we want to give every child the chance to learn, grow, and dream big, we must start by ensuring they have a place to call home. Housing security is more than shelter, it’s the foundation for a successful life.
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