Share
Preview
Everyone deserves a place to call home.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
 
Dear Friend,

June is National Homeownership Month.


All residents should be able to afford rent or mortgage. However, we know this is not a reality in our local housing market. This year’s $325,000 median price for a house in Harris County is up 16.1% from last year. And on average, homes in Harris County sell after 11 days on the market compared to 17 days last year.

Everyone deserves pride, stability, security, and comfort in having a place to call home.

Homeownership is a major source of generational wealth for many Americans and a central part of the American dream.  But for Black and Brown residents, homeownership as a vehicle to pass down wealth is unattainable. Even in a place as diverse as Harris County, nearly half of ZIP codes have more white homeowners than minority homeowners. 

The gaps in homeownership for Harris County’s Black and Brown residents are larger today than in 1968 when the Fair Housing Act passed.

Studies show that the benefits of homeownership are ensnared in a discriminatory appraisal system that perpetuates racial inequalities. Data from the Harris County Appraisal District found that appraised home values were guided by differences in neighborhood racial composition—even when taking into account individual home quality, neighborhood location, school quality, crime, market demand, local parks, and community socioeconomic status.

At Precinct One, we are working to expand access to homeownership opportunities for first-time home buyers and minority homebuyers, while ensuring that Black and Brown families receive a fair appraisal for their homes. Through the Harris County Community Services Department, residents may qualify for the Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP) for financial assistance to purchase a home. Harris County also plans to use American Rescue Plan Act dollars to make unprecedented investments in expanded affordable housing for renters and homeowners, housing counseling, and legal services to help residents find homes and stay in their homes.

In Harris County, we will continue to ensure that homeownership is an achievable dream for everyone.




Rodney Ellis


 
Harris County Precinct One
Downtown Office
1001 Preston, 9th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
713-274-1000
Facebook
 
Twitter
 
Linkedin
 
Instagram
 
Website


Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign