Format Study
Client Partnership for Housing Affordability
Date May 2026
Length 31 pages

For low-income Black homeowners in Richmond, Virginia, a house is not merely a financial asset — it is a life’s work, a family anchor, and in many cases, the only intergenerational wealth a family has. But for many of these homeowners, the ability to hold on to that
asset has been eroding, one deferred repair at a time. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this study aimed to understand how home repair assistance affects the wealth and financial well-being of low-income Black homeowners in Greater Richmond.

Five Key Findings:
1. Repair Assistance produces real benefits to owners.
2. Homeowners see their homes through a lens of hope while waiting to make repairs.
3. Financial barriers keep repairs perpetually out of reach.
4. Owners fear displacement due to the high cost of home maintenance.
5. Estate planning is critical to ensure wealth preservation.