Written by Morgan Ford
Homeownership is more than having a place to live. It brings stability, opportunity, and a way to build wealth for your family. But for many Black families, there are extra challenges that make this dream harder to reach.
In this housing crisis, I was blessed to become a homeowner. I was nervous because the market wasn’t good, but now I’m so happy my daughters can call our place home. I look forward to staying here as I get older. Growing up, my family rented homes and didn’t buy one until I was almost in high school. We always lived in nice places, but we didn’t own them. Owning my own home now means so much to me.
For many Black families, the path to homeownership isn’t fair or equal. Discrimination in lending, lower appraisals for homes in Black neighborhoods, and the rising cost of housing make it harder to buy and keep a home. We hear stories from families facing these challenges every day. That’s why Habitat takes action by helping families afford homes creating affordable homeownership opportunities, teaching them about homeownership, providing homeownership education classes, and working with leaders to create fairer housing policies. But the most powerful voices are those of families themselves. Sharing their experiences inspires change and shows why this work is so important.
This February, I’ll be attending Habitat on the Hill, Habitat for Humanity’s annual advocacy conference. This event brings Habitat supporters from across the country to Washington, D.C., where we meet with lawmakers to advocate for better housing policies. I’ll share my own story of homeownership and highlight the challenges that many families face when trying to achieve this goal.
I’m especially passionate about being a voice for change at this conference because I know the difference that affordable housing can make in a family’s life. Whether it’s pushing for policies that make housing more affordable, addressing rising property taxes, or creating more support for first-time homebuyers, I believe advocacy is key to creating long-term change.
I’m also looking forward to connecting with other advocates and learning new ways to make a bigger impact in my community. Habitat on the Hill is not just about asking for change, it’s about building relationships, sharing stories, and finding new strategies to create a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.
Every time a family gets the keys to their new Habitat home; it’s a reminder of how powerful this work is.
Hi, I'm Morgan,
External Relations Officer at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati. My job is to connect and build relationships within our community and with those who represent it. If you're interested in partnering with us, please contact me at morgan.ford@habitatcincinnati.org.