What does it take to make housing more affordable? It starts with strong voices in the right places. Last week, three members of our team traveled to Washington, D.C., to join Habitat for Humanity advocates from across the country for Habitat on the Hill, an annual legislative conference focused on advancing policies that support affordable homeownership. 

Over the course of three days, our staff met with policymakers, led panel discussions, and joined nearly 500 Habitat representatives in pushing for meaningful change on Capitol Hill. This year’s focus included protecting federal investments in housing, strengthening support for homeownership programs, and ensuring that families across the U.S. have access to safe, decent, and affordable homes. 

Our team met with lawmakers and staff from North Carolina’s congressional delegation to promote bi-partisan policies that tackle the urgent affordable housing crisis. We urged Congress to pass vital housing investments in the federal appropriations bill and to embrace new policies to grow the supply of affordable starter homes across the U.S. These conversations reinforced the power of advocacy—when we bring our local experiences to a national stage, we help shape policies that make homeownership more accessible for everyone. 

Advocacy doesn’t end in D.C.—it continues at home. What happens at the national level directly impacts our community. Federal housing programs help Habitat to build and repair homes in Orange County and will provide critical aid for families in Western NC to rebuild after Hurricane Helene. Together, we must advocate to ensure that these programs, many housed at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are protected from proposed staffing and funding cuts. As we return from Habitat on the Hill, we’re committed to keeping the momentum going. Join us!  

Put your voice into action by signing up at this link for Orange Habitat’s advocacy alerts.