Secretary Fudge announces June 10 House Party 2.0: “Make Home the Goal” on the National Mall
“Let’s Make Home the Goal” campaign highlights the benefits of housing counseling and supports efforts to close the racial homeownership gap
As declared by President Biden’s Presidential Proclamation, the month of June is commemorated as National Homeownership Month. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is at the forefront of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand equity and opportunity through homeownership.
To mark the month, HUD is launching “Let’s Make Home the Goal,” a nationwide, multi-year campaign to generate awareness of the availability and benefits of pre-purchase housing counseling provided by HUD-certified housing counselors. The campaign is designed to reach communities of color that have historically faced more difficulties with the homebuying process due to systemic barriers. Through advertising, events, and public service announcements, “Let’s Make Home the Goal” will reach nearly one million prospective homebuyers in thirteen states, with plans to expand to other markets in the future.
In addition, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge is hosting the House Party 2.0 on June 10, 2023 on the National Mall from 1 PM to 5 PM. The House Party is an in-person event to amplify HUD’s commitment to helping more Americans realize their dream of homeownership. Individuals and families can join Secretary Fudge for this free event featuring live music, food and information about housing counseling, financial education, down payment assistance and FHA mortgage loans to assist aspiring homeowners. This event is a part of the Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall, taking place June 9 – 11, 2023.
“I want everyone in this country who desires to own a home of their own to have access to the resources and tools they need. This National Homeownership Month, we will reflect on the importance of homeownership as a tool for wealth-building and stability for American families,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is proud to launch our housing counseling campaign “Make Home the Goal”. Housing counseling is one of the ways we can bridge the knowledge gap that keeps many well qualified households from seeking homeownership. I am thrilled to personally invite communities to our 2nd House Party, this time on the National Mall, to meet with housing counselors and get important information about the home buying and ownership process.”
Homeownership is the primary source of generational wealth for families in the United States and is central to closing the wealth gap for Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC) communities. According to U.S. Census data, the homeownership rate for Black Americans is nearly 30 percentage points lower than that of white Americans.[1] Similar gaps exist between white Americans and all other BIPOC groups as well. HUD is strengthening its commitment to homeownership by increasing opportunities and removing barriers for first-time, low- and moderate-income homebuyers and communities of color. These actions will help individuals and families attain the stability and wealth-building potential of homeownership.
“The Office of Housing Counseling is excited to launch ‘Let’s Make Home the Goal’ and connect buyers with the housing counseling services that can help to equip them with the confidence and knowledge necessary to become successful homeowners,” said Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon. “When potential buyers have a firm financial foundation and access to unbiased homebuyer education from our network of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, they are better prepared to make decisions that can change the course of their family’s opportunities for generations to come.”
Watch Secretary Fudge’s Public Service Announcement on the importance of housing counseling here. For more information about the program, visit the “Let’s Make Home the Goal” webpage at www.hud.gov/makehomethegoal. Also, visit HUD’s page to learn more our other activities during National Homeownership Month.
[1] U.S. Census Bureau, 2022: Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey. Table 22: Homeownership Rates by Race and Ethnicity of Householder
[2] Urban Institute 2022, What Different Denial Rates Can Tell Us About Racial Disparities in the Mortgage Market