By Treasure Evans, NLIHC IDEAS Intern
As we recognize National Homeownership Month, NLIHC reaffirms its commitment to defending the right of all individuals to safe, affordable, and accessible housing—whether through renting or owning. We recognize that this right has been structurally denied to low-income and marginalized communities. Decades of systemic barriers, including exclusionary zoning, redlining, and predatory lending, have historically prevented Black, Latino, and Native American families from building generational wealth. True progress this month requires confronting past injustices and advancing equitable policies that secure housing for all.
In recognizing the wealth-building and stability offered by homeownership, NLIHC emphasizes that structural barriers continue to prevent marginalized groups from achieving housing security. Although the Fair Housing Act prohibited overt discrimination, contemporary credit scoring mechanisms and lending frameworks function as deeply entrenched obstacles to minority homeownership. Furthermore, systemic inequities within housing markets, neighborhood infrastructures, and resource allocation continue to dictate outcomes for low-income households of color post-acquisition. We cannot fully celebrate this month without confronting the reality that the path to homeownership has historically been unequal.
According to NLIHC's 2025 National Renter Survey Report, America's renters are facing a housing crisis that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. Over the last two years, Black and African American tenants, lower-income households, and individuals dealing with disabilities or chronic illnesses have fought much harder just to stay in their homes. The data also exposes systemic issues: over half of renters have dealt with unsafe living conditions, and 44% of those who need accessibility upgrades say their landlords simply refuse to make them. Communities of color are heavily overrepresented among the lowest-income renters, meaning they are much more likely to be crushed by housing costs. This reality makes it clear that while owning a home is an American goal, we must ensure that everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to live today.
At NLIHC, we know that the housing crisis goes far beyond bricks and mortar. It is a fundamental threat to the physical, mental, and economic health of anyone who doesn't have a safe place to live. NLIHC's 2025 Gap report highlights a devastating shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes for the lowest-income renters, meaning only 35 affordable units exist for every 100 households that need them. Behind these numbers are real families who deserve better. To truly ensure everyone has a secure place to live, we must demand bold action: ending unjust evictions, increasing the supply of rental homes, and heavily expanding federal investments in initiatives like public housing and Housing Trust Funds. Only by fixing this rental crisis can we build a future where everyone has the opportunity to securely own their home.