Framework Partners With The Ohio State University in Groundbreaking Power of Home Program to Aid First-Time and First-Generation Homeowners
BOSTON—Feb. 3, 2021: Framework Homeownership, the organization dedicated to empowering smart and successful homeownership, announces the enrollment of its first users through a partnership with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University (OSU) and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to transform the homeownership experience for thousands of homeowners by providing unbiased advice, information, access to capital and ongoing support, powered by Keep by Framework™.
Backed by a significant investment through the Schmidt Futures’ Alliance for the American Dream competition, as well as funding from OSU and OHFA, the Power of Home initiative—a first-of-its-kind program—aims to help Ohio homeowners on the edge of the middle class by giving them the tools needed to increase homeownership sustainability, an issue made increasingly acute during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We don’t achieve the ‘American dream’ when we sign a mortgage document,” said Danielle Samalin, CEO of Framework. “Rather, the ‘American dream’ depends on homeowners reaping the long-term benefits homeownership provides. Framework is proud to participate in the Power of Home program and support this partnership by providing a critical, unbiased, and trusted source of information to vulnerable homeowners.”
Power of Home offers a one-stop platform with:
- Easy access to search more than 300 state and local grants and loans to fund home maintenance, repair, and energy efficiency work on their home
- Guidance from a team of home experts to answer questions and provide unbiased advice
- A comprehensive and easy-to-understand set of content to learn about the responsibilities of homeownership and assess and plan for home maintenance needs
- An organizational system to keep track of home warranties, create and manage to-do lists and learn about important topics, such as budgeting for home repairs
- Free ongoing, one-on-one financial coaching and counseling services for struggling homeowners to reduce consumer debt from counselors at Apprisen
“A core component of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s mission is to help qualifying Ohio homebuyers receive the financial help to purchase a safe and affordable place to live,” said OHFA interim Executive Director Shawn Smith. “We are pleased to partner with the Power of Home as it strives to help Ohio homeowners protect their largest investment.”
For new homeowners with low incomes and limited savings—many of whom may be first-generation homeowners—the home can become a financial drain and source of stress. A recent survey conducted by Framework shows that 53% of first-time homeowners cited maintaining their home as the biggest challenge they faced in their first year. A 2020 Bankrate survey revealed that 63% of millennial homeowners have regrets about their purchase: the most common being unexpected or hidden maintenance costs.
“One-third of homeowners are unable to pay for an unexpected repair. We are transforming the homeownership experience by creating best-in-class tools that use what we know about how people make decisions,” said Stephanie Moulton, associate professor in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at OSU. “In essence, Power of Home is about information and technology expertise combined with data and research.”
Participation will contribute to OSU’s longitudinal research in evaluating the impact of the program on homeowner wellbeing. The data and research will be published to advance public knowledge about homeownership.
Natasha Bishop, Director of Operations and Development at Apprisen, which is providing Power of Home participants access to free, one-on-one financial coaching and counseling services, said: “Our programs empower individuals to take charge of their financial lives and reach a higher level of financial well-being. Collaborations like this ensure that our services reach those who need them most and create a greater impact than we could ever create alone.”
For more information about the Power of Home, visit keephome.com/ohfa.
About Framework: Framework® is a social enterprise founded on the simple belief that homeownership should be accessible to everyone. The Framework mission is to democratize the homeownership process, particularly for first-time, first-generation homebuyers and homeowners with low-moderate incomes and people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color. We believe homeownership is a reliable way to build long-term wealth and financial security for generations to come. Framework recognizes the systemic inequities in the housing system and uses equitable research practices to design inclusive technology products and services that increase access and help people make informed and confident decisions at every step of their homeownership journey. To learn more, visit www.frameworkhomeownership.org.
About the Ohio Housing Finance Agency: OHFA is the state’s affordable housing leader, providing opportunities for Ohioans to locate affordable housing. The Agency offers a variety of programs and funding to help first-time homebuyers, renters, senior citizens, and others find quality affordable housing that meets their needs. The Agency also works with developers to build and property managers to maintain affordable housing throughout the state.
About John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University: The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University is committed to improving public policymaking and management through education, research, and analysis. Ranked as the best in Ohio and 13th nationally in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report ratings, the Glenn College is committed to developing the next generation of public administration professionals. Its faculty produce innovative, cutting edge research, along with technical assistance and consulting to local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as nonprofit and private organizations.