Individuals and families growing up in cyclical poverty face many challenges. Inequity, stigma, lack of quality housing, health disparities, and limited educational and employment resources are part of a broader system rooted in racism and “otherness.” Faced with these challenges, many people default to a lifetime of renting, especially when most financial contexts are rooted in confusion, predatory lending, and high-risk decision-making. Cycles like these often seem impossible to overcome. Fear and anxiety create paralysis; the cycle continues.
This is the reality that The Housing Partnership, Inc. (HPI) works to deconstruct. Our Homebuyer Education & Financial Counseling program (HBE) offers hope in place of fear by offering low-pressure, high-reward paths to financial literacy. Homeownership is the root of that hope, the first step to building generational wealth. The stability and equity a home delivers break the cycle for current homeowners and future generations that benefit from a literal (and financial) sense of ownership.
By guiding future residents through the maze of financial preparation, lowering the cost of entry for homeownership, and creating a bridge to non-predatory loans and financing, HBE creates the security that becomes a bedrock of cyclical change. While our program focuses on homeownership, our residents benefit well beyond the four walls of their homes. Their partnership with HBE leads them to more freedom, less worry, greater opportunities for success, and a legacy of hope for their children and grandchildren. The means may be homeownership, but the end is quality of life–for the owner, their family, and the community.