DR. HOWARD SLAUGHTER
The path to homeownership isn’t always simple or straightforward, and that’s especially true for African American families, who often face additional obstacles. Barriers like income disparity, lending discrimination, appraisal bias, and less access to generational wealth can make an already complicated process even more difficult, particularly for first-time buyers who may not know where to begin.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh, a Christian-based non-profit, is working to change that. Habitat Pittsburgh’s program guides families through the homeownership process, providing financial education, budgeting help, credit counseling, down-payment assistance, and mortgage underwriting and financing. In return, families invest 350 hours of sweat equity—and the entire extended family can participate—working on their own homes and other Habitat houses to support others with the same dream while gaining a fuller understanding of what it takes to become a homeowner.
“Unlike some organizations, we can work with a family from the very beginning of the process and take them all the way through until they ultimately become homeowners,” said Dr. Howard Slaughter, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. “That is very unique. If they follow the program, there is about a 99.99 percent chance that they will become homeowners.”
That comprehensive approach can be especially important for African American families, Dr. Slaughter said, because many prospective buyers are trying to become the first homeowners in their families. “Part of the challenge is simply knowing that buying a home is possible,” Dr. Slaughter said.
It’s possible because of the hard work Habitat Pittsburgh families put in to make their dreams a reality. “When families work on their own homes, they are less likely to walk away if problems occur because they have a vested interest,” Dr. Slaughter said. “They helped build their own home and helped others.”
That investment, he said, helps turn a house into something more meaningful. Families are not simply purchasing a property—they are helping create the place where they will live and build their future.
Habitat Pittsburgh also works to reduce some of the financial barriers that can keep working families from buying a home. Dr. Slaughter said families receive 30-year mortgages with a 0 percent interest rate and make down payments of less than $1,000. The organization underwrites the loans itself, allowing it to work closely with families throughout the process. During their 40 years of serving the community, Habitat Pittsburgh has had just one foreclosure.
For people who have never purchased a home, that guidance can be as important as the financing. “When you put a stack of papers in front of someone who has never owned a home, it can be intimidating,” Dr. Slaughter said. “That is why we take the time to educate families and walk them through the process.”
The benefits of homeownership can extend well beyond having a place to live. Dr. Slaughter described homeownership as a stabilizing force that can help families build equity and intergenerational wealth.
“A home can appreciate in value, create something to pass down and, in some cases, help put children through school,” he said.
That is particularly significant in communities that have experienced decades of disinvestment. Dr. Slaughter pointed to Black neighborhoods where limited access to grocery stores, financial institutions, health care, and other basic resources can affect both quality of life and the ability of residents to build wealth.
Housing is also one of the most powerful social determinants of health. Through Habitat Pittsburgh’s home repair work, staff members have assisted families living with mold, lead, poor ventilation, plumbing problems, and other conditions that can threaten health and safety. In one case, Dr. Slaughter recalled a veteran who did not have running water throughout his home and had to carry buckets of water upstairs to bathe. In another, a family with two children was living in a house with exposed studs and no water or gas.
Those experiences, Dr. Slaughter said, are reminders that housing instability is often hidden. A family may appear to be managing well while living with serious problems behind the front door.
That is one reason support from major employers and community institutions can make a difference. Dr. Slaughter said UPMC has been a major supporter, with representatives serving on the organization’s board. UPMC also provides support for homeownership, home repairs, and Habitat Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Partnership Program.
But he said employers can have an impact beyond financial contributions.
“One important thing employers can do is educate their own employees,” he said. He suggested that employers can invite Habitat and other housing organizations to speak with workers about homeownership, wealth-building, and available resources. Many employees may have steady jobs but still lack information about how to improve their credit, prepare financially, or begin the homebuying process.
“Companies know where their employees live, but they may not know the conditions in which they live,” he said.
For Habitat, education remains the thread that connects nearly every part of its work. It can help families understand what homeownership requires, how to prepare for it, and why it can create long-term stability.
“When people are fully educated, they can make the best choice for themselves and their families,” Dr. Slaughter said. “Money comes and goes, but education and learning stay with you.”
For African American families who have historically faced both systemic barriers and limited access to resources, that combination of education, financial support, and hands-on partnership can make the difference between seeing homeownership as something meant for someone else and seeing it as an achievable next step.
