06/19/2026
As we commemorate the Juneteenth holiday, we're eager to share about a new research study completed by Habitat International and Washington University that sought to determine if homeownership actually delivers lasting wealth for households who need it most.
The answer is yes! The study found that Habitat homeownership gains are most pronounced among Black households, who have historically faced policy and economic barriers to rights and homeownership. Their study found that Black Habitat homeowners see large credit score improvements, approaching 45 points by the fifth year of homeownership relative to Black non-Habitat neighbors.
And over time, Black Habitat homeowners accumulate savings, about $3,100 more on average, with gains reaching $5,800 by the fifth year and nearly $8,000 by the sixth year — the largest gains in the study and demonstrating homeownership as a key driver of wealth.
These are significant gains to celebrate!
Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, but a structure of intentional and systemic racial...
