{"id":6312,"date":"2025-05-05T09:35:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T15:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/?p=6312"},"modified":"2025-05-05T09:47:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T15:47:42","slug":"building-change-from-the-ground-up-our-community-engagement-manager-goes-to-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2025\/05\/05\/building-change-from-the-ground-up-our-community-engagement-manager-goes-to-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Change from the Ground Up: Our Community Engagement Manager Goes to Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

This February, our very own Community Engagement Manager, Jessica, had the incredible opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend Habitat on the Hill<\/em>\u2014Habitat for Humanity\u2019s annual legislative conference that brings together affiliates from all over the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitat on the Hill (HOTH)<\/em> is more than just a gathering; it’s a powerful advocacy experience that equips Habitat staff and volunteers to speak up for safe, affordable housing at the national level. Over three impactful days, Jessica joined other passionate Habitat leaders to network, grow professionally, and most importantly, prepare to meet with our elected officials to advocate for critical housing issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the conference, Jessica participated in breakout sessions organized by state and region, where attendees reviewed specific legislative \u201casks\u201d related to housing funding and policies. These sessions also included professional development opportunities, allowing affiliate leaders like Jessica to deepen their advocacy skills and bring new ideas home to our local efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key issues Jessica and fellow advocates raised with lawmakers was the growing inaccessibility of homeownership. For too many people, owning a home has become unattainable. Yet currently, there is no federal initiative dedicated solely to developing affordable starter homes. To help put homeownership back within reach for modest-income families, Habitat for Humanity is calling on Congress and the administration to enact a Homeownership Supply Accelerator<\/strong>. This proposed initiative would empower states to design tailored solutions to local financial barriers, while providing flexible and comprehensive financial assistance to help both nonprofit and for-profit builders construct and rehabilitate homes across rural, urban, and suburban communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Accelerator would help address affordability challenges by supporting the acquisition of land, securing affordable construction financing, and bridging the affordability gap. Participating states would be required to show how their plans reach underserved populations and communities that fall below average homeownership rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the Accelerator, Habitat advocates are pushing for federal tax incentives<\/strong> to encourage private investment in homeownership. Tax credits have long been used to support rental housing, but expanding these tools to support home construction for ownership would have a transformative effect. Specifically, Habitat urges Congress to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n