Women's History Month: Homeownership

Sarah Kessler

March is Women's History Month, and we're taking a brief look back at the history of homeownership among women!

​Women’s homeownership began in 1718, when an act was passed allowing women to manage their properties while their husbands were at war. Little progress was made until the 1880s. At that time, laws were abolished that had kept women from being equal in their marriage or from owning any property. Nearly 100 years later in 1968, the Fair Housing Act was passed. This law prohibited discrimination against homebuyers, renters, and owners based on sex, race, and other qualities. Since then, women’s homeownership has grown. From 1990 to 2019, women’s homeownership rates have increased 10%, according to the Urban Institute.
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This month, celebrate all that the women in your home and community do - and the strides that have been made towards making homeownership more accessible.

Would you like to help make safe, affordable housing accessible in Itasca County? Donate to or volunteer with Habitat, or learn more about our New Home program.