Why Jackson County Needs 20 New Homes by 2028

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. It's a simple belief that drives everything we do at Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity. Since 1989, we've been building high-quality homes for our neighbors, but today, we're facing a housing crisis that demands bold action.

The Housing Crisis in Our Backyard

The national housing shortage has hit Jackson County hard. Years of underinvestment in new housing have left us with an aging housing stock that's pricing out working families and first-time homebuyers.

Let's look at the numbers:

• The average house price in Jackson County has tripled since 1990

• While housing costs tripled, wages only doubled during the same period

• Building costs soared 35% between 2020 and 2024, with more increases expected

• Mortgage rates between 6-8% have pushed homeownership further out of reach

These aren't just statistics—they represent our neighbors struggling to find stable housing.

Why Homeownership Matters

Homeownership remains the most powerful way to improve outcomes across critical areas in our community:

• Health

• Education

• Civic participation

• Economic growth

Research from the Urban Institute shows the wealth gap between homeowners and renters has increased by 250% since 1990. Without the opportunity to build equity through homeownership, many families fall further behind financially with each passing year.

Our Bold Response: 20 Homes by 2028

At Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity, we believe change happens in our own neighborhoods first. That's why we're focusing our energy on creating a concentrated impact with a bold goal: building 20 new homes in the next 24 - 36 months.

This isn't just about adding houses—it's about creating homeownership opportunities for ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) who are working hard but still struggling to afford a place of their own.

Why Habitat is Uniquely Positioned to Meet This Challenge

We aren't starting from scratch. Greater Jackson Habitat brings:

• A history of building high-quality housing in Jackson County

• Strong relationships with builders and suppliers

• Excellent partnerships with County, Township, and City governments

• A scalable model for creating housing and volunteer opportunities

By declaring our commitment to 20 homes by 2028, we're galvanizing our network toward a shared goal and leveraging state and national resources to ensure success.

Join Our Mission

Your support can help bridge the gap between housing costs and what families can afford.

Together, we can:

• Build 20 new homes for deserving families

• Provide financial coaching for homebuyers

• Develop financing strategies including down payment assistance

• Expand our outreach to families least likely to apply

• Mobilize networks to improve housing policies at all levels

Every family that moves into a safe, affordable home strengthens our entire community.

When we invest in housing, we invest in Jackson County's future.

Will you join us in making the dream of homeownership a reality for 20 more families in Jackson County?

Learn more about how you can support our 20 Homes by 2028 initiative →