Habitat on the Hill
A federal week of advocacy to increase the supply of affordable homes, especially for entry-level homeownership
I’ve just arrived home from Washington DC, where housing advocates from the around the country gathered for Habitat for Humanity’s advocacy conference.
The problem is that we’re in the midst of the worse housing crisis our country has seen in generations. The market is failing us. We know this. As one part of the solution, one piece of the larger housing puzzle, Habitat calls for action to increase the supply of affordable homeownership opportunities for our neighbors. The answer, largely, is subsidy but it’s also zoning reform and more creative financing structures.
We had a beautiful week on Capitol Hill with 400 Habitat for Humanity International leaders, volunteers and homeowners. We met with 300 legislative offices — Senate and House, Republican and Democrat, representing urban and rural and suburban districts — because we know that this housing problem has no border. In fact, after sharing stories from our communities, budget requests and programmatic priorities, we reminded our representatives about Habitat’s global work in 70 countries around the world.
Top of mind right now
The 800,000 units needed in NYS to close our housing deficit, which is part of the 4 million new units needed nationally. That, and then the 1.1 billion people living in informal settlements or slums around the globe.
The increasingly narrow path to stable, equitable homeownership and the vital federal funds that make it possible for Habitat to expand access to the entire housing continuum.
The successes and triumphs that are unlocked once our neighbors have safe, affordable homes.
The beauty and grit of movement work, of putting housing on hearts and minds and in budgets and legislation. I'm looking forward to diving into our on-the-ground movement even deeper, on the ground and in new ways, so we can build louder together.
Also:
You can join Habitat’s call for federal action on housing here.
Bravo!