Building health through homeownership: Celebrating CHES, Inc., during National Homeownership Month

The Martinez family dreamed of owning their own home. After years of renting, they felt stuck and unsure how to take the next step. That’s when they discovered CHES, Inc. (Credit and Homeownership Empowerment Services). 

At Health Forward Foundation, we know that where the Martinez family calls home will likely have a long-term impact on how healthy they are. That includes the economic security homeownership creates. 

June is recognized as National Homeownership Month in the United States. Health Forward is using this moment to share our focus on affordable housing and homeownership, given the critical role it plays in physical and financial well-being — and its continued role as one of the primary paths Americans take toward building generational wealth, another important factor impacting health outcomes. 

Through comprehensive education and counseling services provided by CHES, Inc., (pictured above), the Martinez family learned crucial financial management skills, budgeting tips, and the steps involved in the homebuying process. With personalized guidance from the dedicated counselors at CHES, Inc., they gained the confidence they needed to pursue their dreams. In addition, the family received a $10,000 down payment assistance grant from CHES, Inc., moving homeownership a little closer to reality. 

The Martinez family’s story is just one part of Health Forward’s broader commitment to housing as a foundation for health. We take a three-pronged approach: supporting affordable housing organizations, investing in homeownership-focused partners like CHES, Inc., and backing community development projects through impact investing. By working across these areas, we aim to expand access to safe, stable, and affordable homes — and in turn, help build healthier, more financially secure communities.

This is the kind of work Health Forward is thrilled to support. And we’re so proud that our partnership with CHES, Inc. is supporting them in expanding their efforts. This means even more HUD-approved housing counseling services, and more financial education, credit enhancement, and direct down payment assistance. 

Our partnership is helping CHES, Inc., with targeted outreach, staff training, technology upgrades, and more — advancing CHES’s goal of increasing homeownership rates and building intergenerational financial stability. 

This is the transformative power of partnership. And this National Homeownership Month, we invite our peers and funding partners to engage with this work — whether by sharing more CHES, Inc., success stories, attending an upcoming workshop, or exploring opportunities to collaborate. 

At the end of their CHES, Inc. journey, and with smiles on their faces, the Martinez family proudly moved into their new home, grateful for the support that helped them achieve their dream. 

When more families like the Martinezes can own a home, they gain more than an address — they gain stability, financial power, and better health. This is meaningful work that can truly reimagine homeownership and put more people on a path toward truly inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities.