In 2002, President Bush designated the month of June as National Homeownership Month. As members of the housing and home building community, we have the opportunity each year to reflect on home ownership and what it has contributed to the creation of thriving communities.

Home ownership strengthens families, stabilizes communities and fosters economic prosperity. Affordable housing, or workplace housing, directly affects middle-income individuals such as teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public servants, as well as millions of Americans in the service and retail industries.

Fostering home ownership opportunities allows these families to find homes in the area where they work, avoiding long commutes which further add to the congestion on the freeways. Beyond creating neighborhoods, the home-building industry also provides funding for various infrastructure projects, including road construction, water delivery systems, schools, parks and fire stations, to name a few.

According to a Zogby America poll, 90 percent of Americans believe providing affordable homes is a high priority, but more than half believe that the nation's housing policy is on the wrong track to achieving "a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family."

Previous BIA surveys also showed that more than eight out of 10 respondents felt it was important for their children to be able to afford a home in their community, yet more than 50 percent believed it would not be possible. Instead, future generations may be forced to look to other regions, counties and states for affordable homes.

Last year, home ownership in the U.S. reached a near record high of 68.6 percent. This figure highlights the importance of home ownership throughout the country and the significance the home building industry plays in our overall economic growth. The story is slightly different in California, however, where the home ownership rate is approximately eleven percentage points below the national average.

Much of this is due to the fact that for more than decade, we have consistently neglected to build enough homes or provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate the people that live and work in this region. This constant struggle between supply and demand has created an ongoing downward spiral that has resulted in a shortfall of nearly 300,000 homes for Los Angeles and Ventura counties combined.

National Homeownership Month presents us with a prime opportunity to combat those numbers by educating potential home buyers and advancing the American dream of home ownership for families throughout Southern California.

While there are barriers to affordability - restrictions on zoning and growth, land use issues, litigation, lengthy permit processes - the home building industry is working closely with legislators and key industry organizations to develop policies that improve affordability and encourage builder investment, such as streamlined approval processes for multifamily development and public investment in infrastructure.

So, what can the average home buyer do?

Potential buyers need to educate themselves to better understand the current housing market and how that market affects buyers and sellers. While mortgage rates are low, home prices are competitive; and the selection of homes is the best it has been in some time. It's important that home buyers are armed with the tools they need to buy a home and create financial security for themselves and their families.

While polls have shown that, in nearly every case, more than 50 percent of respondents still want the single-family home in the suburbs, potential home buyers also need to be open to learning and exploring all the options - from mixed use developments to multi-family housing and beyond.

Future homeowners can join the Campaign for California Homeownership. Launched in 2006, the campaign was designed to highlight the need for housing across the state, open the lines of communication, and meet the challenge of increasing home ownership across California.

By visiting www.cahomeownership.com, potential home buyers can learn about home prices and trends, understand the home buying process, compare buying versus renting, and have access to a mortgage calculator. In addition, they can ask questions of industry experts and provide feedback via a home ownership survey.

Site visitors can also search for new homes in their area.

The Santa Clarita Valley and the Los Angeles region have grown and thrived, in part, because of the home building industry. The city of Santa Clarita is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Los Angeles County. Much of that is due to the fact that our residents have a high quality of life and live in safe and well-designed neighborhoods.

Housing provides us with a place to live; it provide hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state and locally; and it provides individual purchasing power and a strong tax base for our city's coffers. The most important aspect of housing, however, continues to be its impact on the individual.

While increased revenues and an improved quality of life are invaluable to the health and future of a region, knowing that you played a role in helping a family realize the American Dream of home ownership is priceless.

Holly Schroeder is chief executive officer of the Building Industry Association's Greater L.A.-Ventura Chapter. Her column reflects the organization's views, and not necessarily those of The Signal.