As the season of gratitude settles in, it’s a wonderful time to pause and appreciate the place we call home. Our homes hold our memories, protect us from the world, and offer comfort at the beginning and end of each day. Yet it’s easy to forget how significant that blessing is, especially when so many people across the country don’t have stable housing at all.
Here are five heartfelt reminders that help us reflect on just how much we have to be thankful for.
1. Safety & Stability
Having a home gives you more than a roof. It gives you a sense of security, a place to rest, recharge, and belong.
Fact to reflect on: On a single night in January 2024, approximately 771,480 people in the U.S. were experiencing homelessness, meaning they did not have a stable, regular, adequate nighttime residence. (HUD User+2USAFacts+2)
Knowing you have a stable home is something not everyone can take for granted, and that makes it something to be genuinely grateful for.
2. Community & Roots
A home anchors you in a community: it offers routines, familiarity, social connections, and a place where memories grow.
Fact to reflect on: The national homeownership rate in the U.S. is about 65 % as of 2025. (FRED+1)
That means approximately one-in-three households don’t own their home — some renting, others in less secure housing situations. Having a place that’s yours or that you control gives a rootedness many people miss.
3. Freedom to Personalize & Grow
When you own your place, you can make it your own: paint the walls, plant a garden, host gatherings, adapt it as life changes. That freedom is a privilege.
Fact to reflect on: Of all U.S. households, about 65 % are owner-occupied, meaning roughly 35 % are not. (Ruby Home+1)
While ownership isn’t the only path to making a home meaningful, the statistic highlights that many don’t have the same level of long-term flexibility with their housing.
4. An Asset & A Foundation
A home often represents more than just a place to live. It can be a financial anchor, a place of equity, and a foundation for future change (retirement, relocating, legacy).
Fact to reflect on: The homeownership rate has dropped slightly to about 65 %, the lowest since 2019. (Advisor Perspectives+1)
In a time when fewer households can own or afford homes, having one is not just comfortable. It’s meaningful in a broader economic sense.
5. Perspective & Empathy
Being thankful for your home invites a deeper awareness of those who don’t have one, and the systemic factors behind housing insecurity (rising costs, wage stagnation, lack of affordable supply). That awareness can grow compassion, community action, and kindness.
Fact to reflect on: From 2018 to 2024, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. on a single night increased by nearly 40%. (KFF+1)
Recognizing that reality helps us not just appreciate our own home more, but also consider how we might help others achieve housing stability too.
When we take a moment to appreciate the safety, stability, and comfort of our homes, it brings a deeper sense of gratitude into everyday life. Homes are more than walls and a roof. They’re the backdrop for our stories, our families, and our futures. As we count our blessings this season, may we hold a little extra space in our hearts for those who are struggling, and continue finding ways to support one another in our communities.
