At Teton Habitat, we believe everyone deserves a decent place to live, including kids. It should come as no surprise that stable housing is foundational to children’s growth and well-being. Habitat for Humanity International shares that growing up in a decent, affordable home can have a powerful effect on children. Studies draw a straight line between the quality, location, and affordability of housing and a child’s ability to thrive.
On the other hand, low-quality housing — often accompanied by pests, poor ventilation, lack of heat, and other detrimental factors — has been strongly linked to physical health problems for children.
In addition, the stress that parents experience due to living in poor conditions can translate into emotional and behavioral problems in their children. Children whose families who are forced to move frequently in search of better, more affordable living situations often struggle. And parents paying too much for a place to live must too often deplete financial resources that otherwise could be invested in their children’s health, education, and futures.
“By building and restoring safe, clean and healthy housing, Habitat works to eliminate children’s experiences of substandard housing, thereby supporting their growth and development.”
— Boston College’s Rebekah Levine Coley and Tufts University’s Tama Leventhal
Surveys of families with safe, stable, and affordable housing show fewer health problems, improved school performance, less psychological stress, and more self-assured parents.
Teton Habitat knows that strong and secure homes contribute to strong and secure families. You can help a family build their safe and affordable home in Teton County HERE.