July 2025 Newsletter

Issue #101

The U.S. is facing a dramatic shortage of affordable housing, leading to significant cost burdens and a rise in homelessness. Rising construction and land costs make it difficult to build new housing affordable to low-income households without subsidies. Zoning laws, "NIMBYism", and local opposition also slow down or prevent affordable housing development.

Affordable housing is typically defined as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household's

gross income.

The National Housing Wage is the minimum hourly pay needed to pay for affordable housing. For an average two-bedroom home it's $32.11. For a one-bedroom home, it's $26.74.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

In 2023, the average home price in the United States was $495,100. A 10% down payment, would require $49,500.

Forbes

Home prices can vary significantly by region:

• Northeast: often exceeds $500,000
• Midwest: averages around $300,000
• South: typically ranges from $250,000 to $350,000
• West: Often the highest, with averages around $600,000 or more

National Association of Realtors

The top 5 states with the most expensive housing:

• California -- often exceeds $800,000

• Hawaii -- around $800,000

• Massachusetts -- typically range from $600,000 to $700,000

• New York -- In New York City the average home can exceed $1 million

• Washington -- prices are around $700,000

National Association of Realtors

The top 5 states where homeownership is on pace to be out of reach in 5 years, and the percentage wages will need to rise to keep up with

home prices.

Montana 144.1%

California 139.8%

New York 102.8%

Rhode Island 99.5%

New Jersey 94.6%

Quartz

Nationwide Shortage

There is a 7.1 million deficit of affordable & available rental homes for extremely

low-income renters -- those earning less than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

National Low Income Housing Coalition

On average, only 35 affordable & available units exist for every 100 extremely low income households

National Low Income Housing Coalition

87% of extremely low income households spend more than 30% of their income on housing. 75% pay more than 50%.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

Nevada has just 17 affordable units per 100 extremely low-income households—the worst statewide ratio. North Dakota fares best with 62 units per 100.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

Homelessness

Lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness. In 2023 there were approximately 653,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night—a record high, up 12% from 2022.

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

Renters

More than 85% of current renters want to own a home one day. 

Quartz

In no U.S. state can a full-time minimum-wage worker afford a modest two-bedroom rental at fair market rent without spending more than 30% of

their income.

National Low Income Housing Coalition

Student Debt

83% of non-homeowners say student loan debt is preventing them from buying a home

National Association of Realtors

The average student debt is $38,375.That’s about $1,000 more than 2023 and close to twice the average student debt of 2008.

U.S. Department of Education

Taxes

The average property taxes paid in 2022 across the United States was $1,815.

Tax Foundation

The states with the highest average property tax rates:

• New Jersey: 2.21%
• Illinois: 2.05%
• New Hampshire: 1.86%
• Connecticut: 1.70%
• Texas: 1.69%

Tax Foundation

Insurance

Another cost impacting homeownership is insurance. 5.4 million of the 85.7 million homeowners in the United States paid $4,000 a year or more for homeowner’s insurance in 2023.

U.S. Census Bureau

States with the most homeowners paying $4,000 a year or more in homeowner insurance:

Florida 1.2 million

Texas 784,000

California 560,000

New York 272,000

Louisiana 215,000

U.S. Census Bureau

Vacant Homes

There are 14.9 million vacant homes in America

Realtor.com

States with the most vacant homes:

Maine 157,000 (21%)

Vermont 67,000 (20%)

Alaska 59,000 (18%)

                                                     Lending Tree

Global Perspective

The U.S. has less housing than other countries. For example, the U.S. has 425 housing units per 1,000 people. Switzerland has the most with 529.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

For more on Housing, click here.

Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice: A History of Christians in Action

By Karen J. Johnson. A history of the roots of racial inequality that highlights little-known Christians who worked for change such as Catherine de Hueck or John Perkins. Illuminates intersections of Christianity, race, and place, offering insights for today's world. Also empowers readers with practical recommendations, encouraging them to rethink and reshape their own communities for justice.

This book explores the important role faith plays in racial justice by:

• Looking at the intertwining of faith and racial justice as a driving force throughout history.
• Examining faith communities who served as catalysts for social change by championing equality and justice.
• Exploring teachings that inspired advocates to confront systemic racism and propagate the message of love, acceptance, and unity.
• Studying key figures that used faith as a foundation to fuel their activism for civil rights.

Read more.

(Available July 29th)

For more on Racism, click here.

Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality

By Deborah N. Archer. An account of how transportation infrastructure―from highways and roads to sidewalks and buses―became a means of protecting segregation and inequality after the fall of Jim Crow. Shows how officials across the country―not just in the South―turned to transportation infrastructure to keep

Americans divided.

Presents a sweeping, national account―from Atlanta and Houston to Indianapolis and New York City―of these types of divisions. Finally, the author examines the limits of current Civil Rights laws, which can be used against overtly racist officials, but are less effective in addressing deeper, more enduring, structural challenges. Read more.

For more on Racism, click here.

Birth Behind Bars: The Carceral Control of Pregnant Women in Prison 

By Rebecca M. Rodriguez Carey. Looks at the four percent of incarcerated women―more than three thousand―who are pregnant in US prisons each year. Draws on in-depth interviews with these women to provide a rare, intimate portrait into the intersection of motherhood and incarceration. Shows how the prison system works alongside other carceral systems, such as the medical system and the child welfare system, to regulate and control women. Reveals how their incarceration goes beyond the function of criminal punishment, threatening both maternal and fetal health and the well-being of families. Offers an account of how these systems collectively disrupt entire families and communities during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, including long after women are released from prison. Read more.

For more on the Criminal Justice System,

click here.

Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership

By Bernadette Atuahene. In the spirit of Evicted, a property law scholar uses the stories of two grandfathers—one white, one Black—who arrived in Detroit at the turn of the twentieth century to reveal how racist policies weaken Black families, widen the racial wealth gap, and derive profit from pain. 

Through years of dogged investigation and research, Atuahene uncovers a system of predatory governance, where public officials raise public dollars through laws and processes that produce or sustain racial inequity—a nationwide practice in no way limited to Detroit. Shows how predatory governance invites complicity from well-meaning people, eviscerates communities, and widens the racial wealth gap. Using a multigenerational narrative, Atuahene tells a tale about racist policies, how they take root, why they flourish, and who profits. Read more.

For more on Racism, click here.

Covenant for the Care of Creation

A resource of the Episcopal Church for the environment, that offers a commitment to practice loving formation, liberating advocacy and life-giving conservation as individuals, congregations, ministries and dioceses. There is also a newsletter available that provides opportunities to adopt the Covenant in various communities. Learn more.

For more on the Environment, click here.

Student Conservation Association (SCA)

The SCA is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Founded in 1957, the SCA is devoted to building access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. The SCA mains committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and our communities. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. After working with the SCA, they emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills. Learn more.

For more on the Environment, click here.

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights

A nonprofit organization that works for the rights, safety, and unity of immigrant communities, standing with those trapped in our nation’s fundamentally flawed immigration system. Through direct legal representation, impact litigation, education, and client-centered advocacy, engages in unwavering legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrants facing detention or deportation, regardless of background. Learn more.

For more on Immigration, click here.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

A nonprofit organization that works to reduce tobacco use and its deadly consequences in the United States and around the world. Through strategic communications and policy advocacy campaigns, works to change public attitudes about tobacco and promotes proven policies that are most effective at reducing tobacco use and saving the most lives. Learn more.

For more on Health Care, click here.

The Interfaith Peace Project

An organization that provides home and local based education programs to individuals and groups interested in developing or enhancing their appreciation of the faith traditions of the world. Designs introductory programs to help participants cope with inherited stereotypes, innocent misunderstandings, embarrassing questions or general knowledge of the many faith traditions of humankind. Provides contact information for those who would like to meet people from the various faith traditions and perhaps visit their places of worship. Other resources include: The Interfaith Peace blog, the Interfaith marketplace and the Interfaith Observer journal. Learn more.

For more on Religious Tolerance, click here.

You Only Get What You're Organized to Take: Lessons from the Movement to End Poverty

By Liz Theoharis & Noam Sandweiss-Back. Explores the history of poor people’s movements in the United States and traces a personal journey through some of the most significant anti-poverty struggles of the past thirty years. Introduces readers to the people leading the movement to end poverty.

Drawing from personal experience, history, religion, political strategy, and more, argues that American poverty will not end because of the goodwill of the powerful or through the charitable actions of well-meaning people alone. It will happen through a mass movement to end poverty, open to all, and led by the poor. Reminds readers that poor people are not condemned to be subjects of history, but have always been agents of transformative change, and can be once again. Indeed, to reorient our society around the needs of everyone and reinvigorate the promise of democracy, the poor can and must become the architects of a new America. Read more.

For more Community Organizing resources,

click here.

Initiative on Catholic Social Thought

and the Public Life

A resource of Georgetown University that promotes dialogue on Catholic social thought and national and global issues, builds bridges across political, religious, and ideological lines, and encourages a new generation of Catholic lay leaders to see their faith as an asset in pursuing the common good. It's dialogues and gatherings focus on key social issues such as: racism, poverty, immigrants and refugees.

Learn more.

For more Catholic Social Teaching resources,

click here.

A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community 

By Adam Russell Taylor. Reimagines a contemporary version of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Beloved Community, which animated and galvanized the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The Beloved Community can inspire and unite Americans across generations, geographic and class divides, racial and gender differences, faith traditions, and ideological leanings. In the Beloved Community, neither privilege nor punishment is tied to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or economic status, and everyone is able to realize their full potential and thrive. Building the Beloved Community requires living out a series of commitments, such as true equality, radical welcome, transformational interdependence, E Pluribus Unum ("out of many, one"), environmental stewardship, nonviolence, and economic equity. By building the Beloved Community we unify the country around a shared moral vision that transcends ideology and partisanship, tapping into our most sacred civic and religious values, enabling our nation to live up to its best ideals and realize a more perfect union.

Read more.

For more Justice resources, click here.

Stop the Hate

An educational initiative of Campus Pride that supports colleges and universities in preventing and combating hate on campus as well as fostering the development of community. The national program serves as the premiere source of anti-hate educational resources for higher education institutions and campus communities. Developed in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, Association of College Unions International, The Southern Poverty Law Center, the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Wilbron Institute and Campus Pride. Learn more.

For more Justice resources, click here.

Falling into God: My Lay Catholic Journey in Spirituality and Ministry from Family and Home to Vatican II and the Holy Spirit to Prophetic Work for Justice and Peace 

By Tom Cordaro. Part memoir and part autobiography of a prominent, nationally known Ambassador of Peace living in the Chicago area. Tells the story of the author's journey in the context of his forty-five years of service as a lay minister in the Catholic Church. The book is divided into four parts: A Cultural Catholic, A Living Faith, Costly Discipleship and Everything, Everywhere, All at Once with an Appendix: The Original Lay Status of Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons by Joe Holland. Read more. 

For more Justice resources, click here.

KinShift Music

Rooted in progressive Christian values, creates, teaches, and distributes songs that promote equity, unity, justice, mercy, and humility throughout the globe. Offers a turnkey music library, a full-service production studio and helps develop diverse artists -- all designed to inspire, strengthen and unite congregations to live out love and justice.

Learn more.

For more Justice resources, click here.

Prayer

God of creation, God of all time,

We turn to you in a time of turmoil, of unrest, of fear, of sadness. Our hearts are anxious, our minds are distracted, our souls are weary.

Many of your children are suffering from war, poverty, from illness, from abuse, and feel abandoned and betrayed. Your beautiful Earth is ravaged

for profit.

Many of your children have put their trust in weapons, in guns, in money, in power, and have eviscerated the bonds that should link the

human family.

The structures we rely on are shaky, the foundations have cracks. We do not know what the future holds, nor what threats will emerge tomorrow.

Yet we trust, Creator God, that you are with us, in the challenges and the pain. You remind us, repeatedly, to fear not, and so we give our anxieties to you. You remind us that all the darkness in the world cannot overcome the light of one candle, and so we recommit ourselves to being that light of nonviolence

and justice.

Give us your wisdom. Saturate us in hope. Fill us with compassion. Call us to joyful celebration of your wonderous love.

We ask for the grace to continue to walk together as a community, with your guidance.

Amen

Pax Christi USA (adapted)

Since 2017, there have been more than 500,000 visitors to the Social Justice Resource Center website. We provide a wide variety of facts and figures on specific social issues as well as thousands of free resources including films, publications, links to other organizations, prayers, quotes, principles of social justice, key dates throughout the year, action ideas, Diocesan office contact information and biographies of famous people who have worked for social justice.

To learn more, click here.

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