Data tells a story.

At NeighborWorks® America, the data tells the story of new homeowners. It tells the story of homes repaired and of communities working together to make their neighborhoods what they want them to be. It tells the story of families and individuals connecting to education, to jobs and to better health, all by finding a safe place to call home.

NeighborWorks’ annual impact report highlights the data of NeighborWorks and the network – and the stories behind it.

What’s the best way to get closer to the American Dream of homeownership?

“Housing counseling,” agreed panelists for a National Housing Council webinar held Tuesday and sponsored by NeighborWorks® America. Financial education and partnerships are also key as families work to build wealth they can pass on to future generations.

Try hiring a builder in Keyes, Oklahoma. This rural town sits more than four hours from Oklahoma City, and few construction workers will make that drive. Even those who do face additional time and fuel costs as they travel to and from the nearest lumber supplier. So the housing that exists in areas like this just grows older and  more scarce. 

Every community-based affordable housing organization eventually faces the same question: How do you help more families when the need keeps growing but your capacity doesn’t?

Affordable housing and “dream homes” aren’t often part of the same conversation. But at come dream, come build (cdcb) in Brownsville, Texas, they’re one and the same. cdbc’s award-winning program, DreamBuild, creates volumetric modular grow homes – houses that are built in a factory, installed on-site and can easily be expanded as residents’ needs and finances shift. It's the type of regional solution that the NeighborWorks network is known for.

The cost of housing in the U.S. has been climbing and for many families, it’s harder than ever to keep up. Between rising property values, stricter lending conditions and limited access to upfront capital, the path to homeownership can feel nearly impossible, especially for first-time buyers without financial support.  

NeighborWorks® America has welcomed 14 new Business Intelligence fellows, representing 10 organizations from the Southern and Northeastern Regions in the NeighborWorks network. All of the fellows are receiving training on using Tableau software for data analytics and visualization, and will focus on property inheritance issues, which has been identified as major challenge in communities served by network organizations and a major obstacle to building generational wealth. 

The fellows program this year is being sponsored by TD Bank.

When people tell the story of America, they often talk about national leaders, historical events and major milestones. 

But America's story has always been written closer to home. 

After years of conversations and planning, the Fort Hall Housing Authority, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and NeighborWorks Pocatello recently developed a down payment assistance program that expands access to homeownership both on and off Tribal land. The Tribal Council approved the agreement this month, marking an important milestone in a partnership built on trust, collaboration and a shared commitment to addressing housing needs.