HOME's Goals: 7 Stepping Stones to Equality

HOME seeks to achieve equal access to housing for all people through 7 stepping stones to housing equality:

  1. Eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in homeownership
  2. Eliminate housing discrimination and unfair practices
  3. Decrease concentrations of poverty
  4. Lower the rate of mortgage default
  5. Work to de-segregate housing patterns
  6. Help more people become homeowners
  7. Increase the availability of affordable housing

HOME endeavors to achieve these goals through the work of its three housing centers, each of which focuses on a key area in the battle for equal housing access.

Why is HOME's work important? Today in Virginia:

  • 24% of families with children are either denied housing or discouraged from applying for housing.
  • Home mortgage loan data continues to show that African-Americans are denied loans more often than whites, and in many cases pay more.
  • The Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $852. To afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $34,099 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this translates into a fair market housing wage of $16.39.
  • In 2001 over 90% of multi-family housing units required to be accessible to people with disabilities were found not to be fully accessible.
  • Most low income and minority neighborhoods have historically had limited credit access. Now, they are frequently deluged with offers for credit that have expensive and abusive terms. Many hardworking homeowners lose their equity, in many cases leading to foreclosure and loss of a home.
  • In 2004, 46% of people with disabilities experienced barriers in their search for rental housing.
  • Studies across Virginia, in Hampton Roads, the Roanoke Valley, Harrisonburg, Danville, and areas in between show whites treated more favorably than African-Americans in their search for rental housing from 44% to 70% of the time.

The 7 Stepping Stones to Housing Equality in Virginia are significant goals that provide for tremendous social and economic benefits to our Commonwealth. Please join us as we work to improve access for all Virginians.

How to Make a Personal Difference
About HOME and the Three Centers for Housing Equality