Enrollee spotlights

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties 

Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties helped the city of St. Petersburg become the first city in Florida to implement a new law, HB 1339, that will make it easier for affordable housing developments to be approved. Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco Counties identified the rezoning effort tied to HB 1339 in St. Petersburg as one of the key priorities in its 2021 legislative agenda. Rezoning commercial and industrial property for affordable housing will help increase the availability of redeveloped land, especially near transit corridors. Thanks to the affiliate’s advocacy work, which included speaking before the St. Petersburg City Council on Oct. 14, more affordable housing units will be available on land that would have otherwise been vacant or used for non-residential means. Learn more about state and local zoning reforms on the State and Local Policy Library! 

Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties 

In Washington state, Habitat for Humanity of Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties successfully advocated for several home affordability policies at the state and local levels throughout the past fiscal year. Habitat Seattle-King & Kittitas County employed different strategies in its advocacy efforts, which included working in coalition with Habitat Washington and other affiliates in the state as well as external partners, submitting testimony in support of legislation before city council and the statehouse, and meeting with lawmakers in support of its policy priorities. Through these efforts, the affiliate helped extend eviction moratoriums, strengthen tenant protections, address housing discrimination, boost foreclosure prevention, optimize land use through zoning reform and more. Read more about Habitat Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties’ advocacy successes, and other state and local policy wins from fiscal year 2021 in the advocacy impact review.  

Take action

Last week, the House passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which is now headed to President Biden to be signed into law. The bill includes promising provisions to support the energy efficiency work of Habitat affiliates to retrofit the homes of low-income families as well as their own nonprofit buildings. 

However, the Build Back Better Act, which currently sets aside $150 billion for housing, has yet to be voted on by Congress. This funding addresses many of our Cost of Home priorities by seeking to increase the supply of affordable homes, revitalize neighborhoods, and reduce financial pressures on homeowners. 

We couldn’t have done this without your collective advocacy. Now, we must ensure that housing remains in the final legislation to help make the cost of home affordable to all.

Highlights

Learn from your peers: The Fiscal Year 2021 State and Local Advocacy Impact Review is out!  

Thanks to the network's reporting on state and local advocacy efforts through the quarterly Affiliate Statistical Report, we’re excited to announce that in fiscal year 2021, 655,937 people were impacted with improved home affordability across the U.S. through policy and systems change at the local and state level. Additionally, more than $4.14 billion in government funding was accessed or allocated for affordable housing through that policy change. Learn more in the Fiscal Year 2021 – State and Local Advocacy Impact Review, which includes over 50 descriptions of successful policy outcomes achieved by affiliates and affiliate support organizations. 

Don’t miss out! Habitat on the Hill 2022: Building a more equitable future 

On Feb. 8-10, 2022, join hundreds of home affordability advocates from around the country at Habitat’s second virtual legislative conference. You’ll have the opportunity to hear insight from housing experts, meet with congressional offices, discuss housing policy solutions, and network with your peers across the country. Early bird registration for Habitat on the Hill ends on Dec. 10. We can’t wait to see you there virtually! 

Featured resources

Leverage: New equity in housing webpage 

We’ve published a new page about equity in housing. This slideshow highlights how historical race and class discrimination are primary contributors to the lack of equity in housing and neighborhood choices today, as well as details how we’re working to advance equitable policies through Cost of Home. Consider using this as resource when communicating with your supporters and partners via social media, email or other platforms. 

Explore: Updated State and Local Policy Library 

We’ve made significant updates to Habitat’s State and Local Policy Library to help your organization identify and understand promising public policies to address a variety of housing affordability needs. Browse the library to learn where a particular policy works best, understand key considerations, access case studies and sample legislation and find links to additional resources. The library includes housing policy solutions aligned with the subthemes of the Cost of Home campaign and others that can enhance affiliate operations. This library is not meant to be an exhaustive list of policies, but we hope it will help you develop and refine your local and state advocacy agendas.

Learning opportunities

Don’t forget to register: Storytelling and effective advocacy messaging  

On Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. EST, we will host the final learning session in the year-long policy and advocacy learning series. It’s important to communicate with volunteers, elected officials and other interested parties as part of your advocacy for home affordability. Join us to hear how your peers achieved advocacy successes through effective and impactful storytelling. 

Participate for free: National Housing Conference’s Solutions for Affordable Housing 

On Nov. 17, join NHC for the Solutions for Affordable Housing virtual conference to explore policy solutions to address the nation’s most pressing housing challenges. As members of NHC, Habitat for Humanity International is pleased to extend complimentary registration to Habitat network staff. Use code NHCmember2021 at checkout to attend. The event will feature influential experts in housing, lending, homelessness, and community development, as well as federal, state, and local government officials. Panel discussions will cover the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the Homeowner Assistance Fund, implications of unified rulemaking in Community Reinvestment Act modernization, and HUD’s new House America initiative. 

Connect and learn: National Rural Housing Conference 

Housing Assistance Council’s National Rural Housing Conference is scheduled to take place virtually Nov. 30–Dec. 3. With an exciting and full schedule of workshops and new virtual gathering spaces, the conference will offer attendees a premier opportunity to learn from experts and connect with the affordable housing industry. In conjunction with the conference, Housing Assistance Council is also hosting a USDA section 502 direct loan packaging course for $100. Rural affiliates can apply for a scholarship for this training and/or the full conference. 

You asked? We answered. 

Q: I have a question about the Cost of Home campaign and would like to seek advice and discuss best practices with fellow affiliates and the HFHI team. Where would be the best place to ask?

A: Make sure you’re keeping an eye on our Cost of Home Yammer community! You can always email us at costofhome@habitat.org if you have questions or comments. However, if you prefer a community forum format, the group is always open. Our Yammer is also a great place to get the latest advocacy news and opportunities, ask questions to your peers and share experiences that have worked for your affiliate. 

Questions or comments regarding this update?
Please contact Anne Myers, senior director, advocacy campaigns, at amyers@habitat.org or
202-239-4422.