Commentary: Moving forward on affordable housing

By Ben Litchfield

I attended a new home dedication ceremony in Ferry Farm sponsored by the Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity. I had toured the home while it was still under construction and was excited to see all the work that construction program manager Emily Berg had put into the home since I had been there. I was also eager to meet the new homeowner, a paraprofessional working in Stafford County Public Schools. Watching her cut the ribbon and her children run in and out of their new bedrooms were truly heartwarming moments.

Homeownership is a vital foundation for helping working families find a path toward economic and personal stability. Moving into affordable homes improves health, educational attainment, safety, and personal wealth for many families. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “homeowners accumulate wealth as the investment in their homes grows, enjoy better living conditions, are often more involved in their communities, and have children who tend on average to do better in school and are less likely to be involved in crime.”