Shelley Moore Capito, June 21, 2002

Nearly 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln said: "The strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people." Almost 100 years later, another President, Lyndon B. Johnson said: "Owning a home can increase responsibility and stake out a man’s place in his community."

Both Presidents recognized the significance of homeownership as a high priority of individuals and as an important part of the American Dream.

The month of June is Homeownership month. It is a time, set aside, to recognize the tremendous benefits--social, economic and psychological--of owning your own home.

Studies have linked home ownership to personal well being, greater self-esteem, life satisfaction and increased political and civic involvement. Neighborhoods that have undertaken revitalization efforts through homeownership have experienced a drop in crime rates and unemployment.

At the end of last year, almost 72 million American families owned their own home. That’s a record 67.5%--the highest rate in history.

West Virginia had the highest homeownership rate in the country for 2000--an astounding 75.2% of the Mountain State residents own their own home.

But there are still millions of minority families, families of low or median incomes, women-headed households, new American Families and other communities where home ownership rates are below 50%--far below the national average.

Homeownership is more than a term to describe the financial legal status between you and the place you fall asleep at night. Owning your own home transcends all labels--tenant, owner, renter, leasee. Instead, the term has huge implications for the lives of the people who live within the walls of the house itself. Ownership implies responsibility, commitment and respect for that which you own.

A house is the biggest purchase most families will ever make and it accounts for the bulk of many Americans’ wealth. But a house is so much more than that. It is where we raise our children and build our communities.

All West Virginians should have the opportunity to own this piece of the American dream.

The more West Virginians we help place on the path to home ownership, the more we will see our communities flourish in an environment of civic responsibility, neighborly respect, and true community.

Shelley Moore Capito is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia.