Research Finds AH Critical to Children's Health

A first-of-its-kind look at research on the link between affordable housing and children's well-being has found that decent, affordable rental and owned homes play a critical role in improving the lives of children.Enterprise Community Partners and the Center for Housing Policy, which released the research survey, argued that the results show that housing should be elevated "to its rightful place" on the national agenda. "This comprehensive analysis provides real insight into the many ways in which quality, affordable housing can help in addressing this nation's health and educational challenges," said Jeffrey Lubell, executive director of the Center for Housing Policy. The study indicates that children of homeowners and their families achieve better physical and mental health than renters. Approximately 85% of homebuyers reported that homeownership made them feel better about themselves, indicating "a strong correlation between homeownership and overall health and well-being" mostly tied to housing stability, which "plays a key role in helping children do better in school."