As the pandemic’s economic turmoil continues to unfold, more people are in search of safe, affordable housing. In the past year, Habitat for Humanity has seen considerable gains in housing policy and legislation to help increase access for families and individuals. Over the years, local, state, and federal advocacy efforts have led to improved housing availability for more than 4 million people across the United States. This is a major milestone benchmarked by the Cost of Home Advocacy campaign.
Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, said, “As a leader in the housing industry, Habitat will continue to fight for a seat at the table in policy discussions regarding housing affordability. At a time when uncertainty and instability are profound, our message has never been more important. I'm proud of our local Habitat organizations, partners, volunteers, and community members for making this milestone possible, but our work is not done. While there are families in the U.S. who still spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, policymakers must continue to prioritize housing.”
The goal of the campaign is to increase home affordability for 10 million people. Local and state advocacy groups will continue to advocate for policies that increase supply, access to credit, optimize land use for affordable homes, and ensure the development of communities of opportunity.
At the federal level, the Cost of Home promotes significant housing investments, such as the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act and the Restoring Communities Left Behind Act.
For more information on the Cost of Home campaign and how to get involved, please visit the Habitat for Humanity website.
