Affordable housing helps increase the discretionary income that low-income families have available to meet important family needs or save for the future. Not spending more than half of the family’s income on housing, frees up family resources for nutritious food and health care expenditures. Stability allows homeowners make investments for the long-term.

Affordable housing has multiple positive effects on people’s health and well-being. In contrast, lack of affordable housing and homelessness can worsen physical and mental illness, expose residents to health hazards (such as lead paint, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, infectious diseases, poor air quality, toxins, and allergens), and prevent chronic medical conditions from being treated. Academics and experts draw a straight line between housing quality and the well-being of children. Poor Quality Housing is tied to children’s emotional and behavioral problems. Parents’ stress from living in poor quality and unstable homes take a toll on children’s well-being.

Decent and affordable housing creates a foundation for children to grow into their full potential and pursue an education. Staying in the same school, having adequate space at home to study, and not worrying about having to move are all contributing factors to educational achievement. Having a safe, clean, dry, well-lit place to study increases the chances of children being able to focus on their studies. A healthy home means children are less likely to miss school due to illness.

Equal access to housing protects women from discriminatory policies and practices related to land distribution, titling and inheritance.

Access to clean water and sanitation are integral to creating safe and healthy communities. Habitat for Humanity strives to provide both through every Habitat home that is built.

Stable housing leads to better economic opportunities, as families are often excluded from basic services because they lack proper housing. Strong housing markets also boost economic growth, as home construction creates job opportunities for local communities and stimulates the creation of small businesses and livelihood. For some families, it provides the first step towards establishing a thriving home-based businesses.

Affordable Housing can Transforms Communities, as it generates employment opportunities for the community and stimulates the local economy, offering better transportation options and access to better infrastructure facilities. New technologies promote affordable, market-based, resilient, energy-efficient and green housing approaches. Construction of homes with the use of appropriate construction technologies promotes innovation in the construction industry.

Housing helps communities overcome inequality as Affordable housing is key to social equality for marginalized and vulnerable communities such as refugees, internally displaced persons and persons with disabilities. Promoting economioc equality andequal access to services and promoted diversity and social inclusion of all groups; creating long term impacts of social cohesion within communities.

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Access to affordable, adequate, safe and inclusive housing and basic services increases resilience. Integrated housing frameworks support economic, social and environmental policy planning and infrastructure linkages across the urban-rural ecosystem.

Resilient homes promote preparedness among communities and enhance their ability to cope with environmental disasters and mitigate the impacts of climate change.