The promotion of homeownership is one strategy that policymakers use to improve the well-being of disadvantaged families. A home is a valuable asset, and for multiple reasons, homeownership is an important area of study Michal et al, (2011). 2.2. Empirical Evidence Affordable and stable housing has been linked with improving health, education and economic outcomes for families and children. Many studies show that stable housing is both a foundation for well-being as well as a platform for connecting people to services and resources that include quality health care centers and schools and other facilities. When housing is stable and affordable, families can spend more time and resources on medical care, nutritious food and the like. Homeownership increases housing security to families: it gives more control to owners over their physical surroundings, lowers real monthly payments over time, protects against unanticipated changes in rental costs, and helps build wealth. Homeownership also provides a ready mechanism for families to borrow money and get credit to improve their home, make purchases or invest in education or the financial markets. It is also argued that these benefits are available to all homeowners regardless of economic status. 2.2.1. Previous studies 1. Andrea Lynn Bentzinger, …show more content…
For many people, housing is more than a shelter; additionally it provides for and helps families meet many of their needs for safety and security, social interaction and self-esteem (Merrill, Crull, Tremblay, Tyler, & Carswell, 2006; Schwartz, 2006) cited by Andrea Lynn Bentzinger, (2009). Although it is known that homeownership is sought after by most families, and thought to have more positive outcomes for the household and the community, questions remain regarding the actual benefits of becoming a homeowner, especially for low-income families Shlay, (2006) cited by Andrea Lynn Bentzinger,
Keli Goff declares in her article, The American Dream is Dead and Good Riddance, that the original American Dream is no longer on the minds of most Americans. She insists that most Americans no longer pursue the ideology of a nice house, educated children, and decent car that once fueled the ambitions of generations that have come and gone. A large number of people live alone in the U.S today with no children. With that being said, it’s statistically spoken that the dream is dying even though most of those loners want to direct their dream in the direction of a partner and children. Goff proceeds to ridicule the home ownership portion of the dream by pointing to a mortgage “meltdown” that came from the pursuit of home ownership by those who
In this book, Gottesdiener writes about four different families and their challenges. These families deal with having their homes forcefully foreclosed by banks. Apart from that, African Americans were discriminated when purchasing homes, making it difficult for them to find a place. As Walt Whitman said, "a man is not a whole and complete man unless he owns a house and the ground it stands on" (35). This quote said by Whitman can be interpreted that homeownership is a way to show power and wealth. Due to the discrimination, the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act was created, which allowed loans to minorities to receive equal loans of the surrounding communities. This was specifically focused in the lower and moderate neighborhoods, but it failed due to redlining. Redlining was the act of categorizing specific areas of a neighborhood by racial conduct. For example, when a white is looking for a home, the relator shows them a map that avoids the low income area, which is typically of African
On May 20th of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed, and put into effect, the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act opened up more than half a million square miles in the Western half the the United States during the Civil War. The Homestead Act was a major turning point in American History. It was a huge milestone for American history because its consequences included implications during the Civil War, but also paved the way for westward expansion within the United States.
For those of us with warm roofs over our heads and groceries on the table the problem of affordable housing does not often surface. But for low-income families, where half the income can disappear simply trying to keep the family sheltered in an acceptable home, the problem is a daily one. President of the BRIDGE Housing Corporation Donald Terner and columnist Brad Terner argue that affordable housing is a problem that should involve everyone. From your local supermarket clerk to your child’s science teacher, the problem of affordable housing can affect us all.
To words meaning two different things have a way of relating to one another to create something new? Many things can be made to describe two simple words like ownership and identity. Ownership can be both tangible and intangible. When looking at how ownership relates to identity, people tend to look at aesthetic instead of how ownership builds moral character that leads to identity.
Affordable housing refers to housing units that are affordable by that section of society whose income is or below the median household income. For example, affordable housing should address the housing needs of lower or middle income households. And for sustainable communities, it is one that is economically, environmentally, and socially healthy and resilient.. According to the Western Australia Council of Social Services (WACOSS): "Social sustainability occurs when the formal and informal processes; systems; structures; and relationships actively support the capacity of current and future generations to create healthy and livable communities.” As we can tell, all affordable housing, sustainable community, and social sustainability are
As the lease of my apartment is coming to an end it had me thinking of achieving my own American Dream of home ownership but as I do my research I find the dream is far from coming true. I am sure that the issue of housing prices and rent rates are what most of us Bay Area residents talk about and debate. It is an issue that needs to be addressed by the officials of the area, city mayors, affordable housing committees, social justice activists,lawmakers, and even employers. Skyrocketing prices, low inventory, and investors’ bidding wars are not only pushing the middle and lower classes out of San Francisco and the Bay Area out but will completely eliminate them.
...ss is hard to qualify in a world where the acquisition of material goods masquerades for success. A home is a material object that exists within a concrete reality. It exists with its own qualities of a house built of materials that do change and degrade over time. The costs of homeownership are harder to dismiss when one becomes disillusioned with the effects of a lack of attention to those costs.
Economic troubles can be prevented through access to affordable and adequate housing that is within the means of an individual’s income. With advances in production and design, the American Dream can become a feasible reality for all Americans.
Having a house and having a home used to coincide. Families used to live in the same house for generations, but now the sentimental value of having a house has changed. As Quindlen puts it, “There was a time when where you lived often was where you worked and where you grew the food you ate and even where you were buried. When that era passed, where you lived at least was where your parents had lived and where you would live with your children when you became enfeebled” (Quindlen 215). However, over time even that changed. Now we have grown to live in a house and then move on like it was nothing. Sentimental value for a house has dwindled. Quindlen demonstrates that “suddenly, where you lived was where you lived for three years, until you could move on to something else and something else again” (Quindlen 215). However, for those without a house, they would give anything to have that sentimental feeling that used to come with having a house. But that’s just the problem; for most a house and a home no longer coincide. We can own a house but not have a home, or vice versa. After all, “Home is where the heart is. There’s no place like it” (Quindlen 214). People can have a home without having a house. A home simply means having a family,
A house is simply a structure where one lives, sleeps and eats. A home is a structure accumulated with love, memories, and lessons learned. “Homes have stopped being homes. Now they are real estate.” (Quindlen) These structures are no longer viewed as places of experience and reminiscence, they are given a literal and unemotional purpose. Perhaps the reason as to why nearly one million people are homeless is because they are no longer provided with the pure substance of what a home represents. A home is “everything” , one cannot be a fulfilled individual without one for it offers a sense of self, demonstrates a loving relationship and provides an unfailing feeling of entitlement.
Buying and owning your home is part of the American dream. Although the dream itself has since changed, the home still remains the main focal point. Today owning a home doesn’t necessarily mean a house. People now buy duplexes, cooperative apartments, and condominiums. For some families it could take up to a couple of generations before it’s able to have the capabilities of buying a home. To many people it means a certain achievement that only comes after years of hard work. It is a life altering decision and one of the most important someone can make in their lifetime. The reasons behind the actual purchase could vary. Before anything is done, people must understand that it’s an extraneous process and it is a long term project.
A mortgage is a form of debt, secured by the warranty of a specific real estate property. The borrower is required to pay back the debt in predetermined payments. The most common reason for acquiring a mortgage is to purchase real estate when it cannot be paid for up front. The homebuyer, in a residential mortgage, pledges their home to the bank. Over a period of years, the borrower pays back the loan with interest. Once the mortgage is paid in entirety, the owner retains the property free of any charges. However, in case of foreclosure, the bank has an entitlement on the house, as a form of insurance should the buyer default on repaying the mortgage. The bank can then sell the house, and use the capital to pay back the remaining mortgage.
Home loans, or mortgages, use a borrower's home for collateral. This home can be a single-family house up to four-unit property, as well as condominium or cooperative unit. Lenders fund home loan, but both the lender themselves and broker who act on behalf of the lenders originate.
“Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends (Robot check).” A place becomes a home for me when I am around all the things that I enjoy and love. For example, when I am around everyone that I love, I enjoy a peaceful environment and the beautiful landscapes around me. The interpretation of home for me is not a physical thing that I see or that I can remember or even certain thoughts that I can relate, but it is a sensation that overcomes me when I envision being in the comfort of my own home. However, I know that this is a feeling that is calming to my soul and it quietly reassures me that I genuinely belong in a place where I can be free from people constantly judging me.