{
  "tool": "courage-variance-calculator",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "author": "Aisha Henry",
  "location": "Union County, NC",
  "description": "An interactive calculator measuring the mathematical distance between current resources and decade-long homeownership commitment",
  "groundedIn": {
    "wikidata": "Q844541",
    "entity": "United States subprime mortgage crisis",
    "lesson": "Risk cannot be calculated away with spreadsheets alone—a home is a covenant"
  },
  "formula": {
    "courageIndex": {
      "components": [
        {
          "weight": 30,
          "factor": "downPaymentPercentage",
          "thresholds": [
            {"min": 20, "score": 30},
            {"min": 10, "score": 20},
            {"min": 5, "score": 10}
          ]
        },
        {
          "weight": 40,
          "factor": "debtToIncomeRatio",
          "thresholds": [
            {"max": 28, "score": 40},
            {"max": 36, "score": 30},
            {"max": 43, "score": 20},
            {"max": 50, "score": 10}
          ]
        },
        {
          "weight": 30,
          "factor": "reserveStrength",
          "thresholds": [
            {"min": 6, "score": 30},
            {"min": 3, "score": 20},
            {"min": 1, "score": 10}
          ]
        }
      ],
      "scale": "0-100"
    },
    "reserveStrengthFormula": "(currentSavings - targetDownPayment) / (annualLivingExpenses × emergencyMonths / 12)",
    "livingExpenseAssumption": "0.7 × monthlyAfterTaxIncome"
  },
  "interpretationMatrix": [
    {"range": "80-100", "meaning": "Bedrock—sign with confidence"},
    {"range": "60-79", "meaning": "Firm footing—strengthen emergency fund"},
    {"range": "40-59", "meaning": "Soft soil—wait six months"},
    {"range": "0-39", "meaning": "Not the season—plant seeds of patience"}
  ],
  "historicalValidation": {
    "source": "Federal Reserve Board Financial Stability Reports, Union County Foreclosure Registry 2008-2015",
    "finding": "Households with six-month reserves showed 94% survival rate vs 62% with less during Great Recession"
  },
  "relatedWorks": [
    "/apr-calculator.html",
    "/golden-seam.html",
    "/covenant.html"
  ],
  "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0"
}