Written by Sam Bezilla, AmeriCorps Volunteer Lead.
All our amazing construction volunteers know that building affordable housing isn’t easy. On a Habitat jobsite, you’ll quickly learn that residential construction requires patience (you’ve got 13 more walls to prime and paint!), problem solving (isn’t this house supposed to be square?), and just plain grit (rain gear helps). Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County staff and volunteers overcome these physical challenges every day, and leave knowing they’ve moved someone a little closer to move-in.
But putting hammers to nails is only one part of getting everyone a safe, decent, affordable place to live. Habitat has to find appropriate land; get permits, donations, and financing; and ensure that homeowners have sufficient income to pay their affordable mortgages. I’ve learned in the past few months that Habitat can’t do many of those things alone—government at all levels has a role to play.
Along with other members of the HFHEJC community, I recently attended the Habitat on the Hill conference to learn about and strengthen Habitat’s government advocacy on affordable housing issues. Over three days in February, more than 700 participants from Habitat affiliates around the country met virtually to hear from policy experts, trade tips, and urge their Congressional delegations to support affordable housing action.
A key focus of the conference, along with the legislative asks, was the racial equity gap in homeownership. In the opening keynote, john a. powell, director of the UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute, shed insight into how opportunity in all areas of life is heavily influenced by housing geography, which has an ongoing history of discrimination. Other conference speakers reviewed how past government policies created the racial wealth gap and how future legislation seeks solutions.
My biggest learning was how legislation at the local, state, and federal levels interlocks to support or stifle affordable housing, and how Habitat affiliates, including our own, are engaging with those processes. Restrictive zoning can prevent or encourage efficient land use that controls costs. State governments can mandate set-asides, requiring that a certain portion of new units built will be affordable. Federal agencies, such as the departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development, provide loans and subsidies for developers. Governments at any level can directly fund construction or help Americans make their rent and mortgage payments.
All these issues directly affect how many houses Habitat can build—just as much as how many volunteers show up or how well we can install a door. So it was energizing to hear how Habitat staff and volunteers around the country are speaking up on these issues and getting laws passed at every level to advance our mission.
Our local affiliate has its part to play, too. Learn how to get involved in nationwide policy through Habitat for Humanity’s Cost of Home Campaign, or for our efforts in Jefferson County, contact Jamie Maciejewski at director@habitatejc.org.
A note from Executive Director Jamie Maciejewski
Sam’s view of the advocacy landscape takes us to the place where we begin to ask, “What next?” Community members who care that their neighbors can afford housing, who want to make it possible for young families and service workers to live here, can use the simplest tools of communication—email and phone—to let elected representatives know their views. Habitat tracks important legislation and policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Want to know when something is coming up for a vote? Want to share your views with your elected representatives? Let us know and we’ll alert you. We’ll provide you with simple language and tools so you can make your views known to the people who are elected to represent our local community. Email advocacy@habitatejc.org to let us know you’d like to help. Thanks!
