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Education Success Rates
Housing does not automatically lead to better educational outcomes, but it does lay the foundation for emotional stability, increased engagement, and motivation to succeed. Impacts associated with homeownership and education success tend to be stronger for low-income households and are specifically crucial to early childhood development and children’s initial success rates in school. Being raised in an encouraging and safe physical environment allows children and parents alike to feel happier and more willing and able to achieve. Not worrying about external living factors increases focus on learning and participating in extracurricular activities. Research shows that children in owner-occupied homes have a 70% greater chance of high school graduation. (IZA World of Labor).
Habitat Housing Program
Our mission at Habitat for Humanity is to make affordable homeownership opportunities available for everyone, especially low-income families in need. Through our housing program, partnering families are responsible for paying a mortgage for their homes in addition to completing “sweat equity” hours on the construction site. Families that apply to our homeownership program are dedicated to our process and excited for the opportunity to become homeowners. Habitat families who have completed our homeownership program are thankful for a place to call home and proud to provide a home for their children.
Habitat Homeowners
Welcoming families into their brand new Habitat homes is always a special moment. For many families, it is their first time being a homeowner. Two families currently in our program are the Gleh family and the Wah family! They are both on their way to becoming homeowners at our Cambria Terrace Development in Coatesville, PA.
Amos Wah, Annie Wah, and their daughter Precious expressed that their living conditions before Habitat were expensive and stressful, as they are a low-income family. “When we got the letter that we were qualified for the homeownership program, we were so happy beyond words,” says Amos. Amos expressed that the education requirements and the sweat equity program benefit his family as first-time homeowners. Amos looks forward to the final moments leading up to his family entering their new home.
“It is a beautiful experience and a great opportunity to tell people that we are homeowners. Having our own sleeping place is a feeling that life, hope, joy, peace, self-confidence, and values have been restored. I feel so excited about completing these homeowner requirements, and I am willing to participate to the fullest. My children and I are looking forward to a better and brighter future with the help and support of Habitat to bring our dream to reality.” – Kebeh Gleh.
Support Our Mission
There are many ways to participate in our Habitat for Humanity of Chester County mission. You can get involved directly with Habitat or at our Habitat ReStores. All proceeds from shopping at the ReStores benefit our construction of Habitat homes. We are always looking for construction volunteers, ReStore volunteers, corporate builds, and more! If you want to get involved, there is something for everyone at Habitat for Humanity of Chester County, and every donation counts! To learn more about how to get involved, visit our website: hfhcc.org