As America turns 250, let’s renew the promise of home

As Americans celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, we’re reflecting on the promises that have defined our country. Few are more fundamental than the opportunity to build a stable life. Yet for millions of Americans, that opportunity remains out of reach because they cannot find or afford a safe place to call home. 

If opportunity is America’s promise, housing is where that promise begins. 

Today, more than one in four renter households — a staggering 12 million families — spend more than half their income on rent and utilities alone, leaving less wiggle room for life’s other expenses. Behind that statistic are families making impossible choices between housing, groceries, childcare and other basic necessities. 

The foundation of opportunity 

Housing is often framed as an economic issue. It is certainly that. But we can all agree that it is also so much more: It determines how well a child does in school, how a senior can age with dignity and how a family can build security rather than living one crisis away from disaster. 

It also determines whether a neighborhood remains a place where businesses invest, residents stay engaged and communities grow stronger together. Addressing a challenge of this scale requires action at every level, including federal policies that enable communities to build and preserve affordable homes. 

The bipartisan 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act is an encouraging example of what can happen when Congress focuses on practical, bipartisan solutions that help communities expand housing supply, preserve existing homes and support critical repairs. 

Its significance lies not in what it does on paper, but in what it can mean for families searching for an affordable apartment, seniors hoping to remain in their communities or homeowners struggling to keep up with repairs. 

Moving from legislation to local impact 

This legislation is an important first step in addressing our nation’s affordable housing challenges, but more can and should be done. Congress should fund key initiatives authorized by the bill, particularly the Whole Homes Repair Program, which would help homeowners make essential repairs that preserve safety, accessibility and long-term housing stability. 

Lawmakers should also enact the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, which would create a tax credit to close the financing gap that prevents the construction of affordable starter homes in many communities. Together, these investments would expand homeownership opportunities, strengthen neighborhoods and help more families build lasting financial security.

For decades, community development organizations have partnered with local leaders to bring together public, private and philanthropic resources that create affordable housing and expand economic opportunity. Their experience has shown that while every community faces different challenges, lasting progress happens when federal investment is paired with local leadership and community-driven solutions.

Local leadership in action 

Across the country, these partnerships are already producing results. In Detroit, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has helped more than 850 homeowners access zero-percent-interest loans for critical repairs, investing more than $28 million to help families remain safely in their homes. 

In Rhode Island, a USDA-supported self-help housing program is helping low-income families achieve homeownership, working alongside future neighbors to build their own homes. 

Across rural America, Rural LISC’s Healthy Housing Initiative is partnering with more than 70 community-based organizations, investing $4.9 million to build, rehabilitate and repair homes, connecting families in Mississippi to disaster preparedness and recovery resources and expanding home rehabilitation opportunities in Texas. In Arkansas, Rural LISC is partnering with We Center We Build’s modular single-family homeownership program to provide funding for early development activities.

Renewing the promise of opportunity 

These stories address different community needs, but the lesson is the same: Affordable housing is about far more than housing. It is about economic opportunity too – whether working families can build stable futures and whether children can succeed in school. 

The good news is that communities across the United States are already demonstrating what works. The challenge now is how to give communities the additional tools and resources they need to scale these solutions. 

Reflecting on America’s 250th anniversary of independence, we are reminded that our nation’s greatest achievements have never come from standing still. They have come from renewing our commitment to the American dream and expanding opportunity to more people. 

With renewed tools and resources, including those in the bipartisan 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act, our communities can ensure that access to housing and economic opportunity continues to build a stronger America.

Michael T. Pugh is president and CEO of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, one of the country’s largest community development organizations.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire’s editorial department and its owners. To contact the editor responsible for this piece: [email protected].