Habitat for Humanity is all of us working together, partnering with families to improve their housing. The life-changing impact of decent and affordable shelter unites us. We are Habitat, and we are changing lives!

As Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International’s president and CEO has said, “The housing need is far too great to build one house at a time. But that need can be met if we use our voices and not just our hammers.” This is why Habitat’s strategic plan challenges us “to promote policies and systems that eliminate restraints to affordable housing.” Success requires involvement and commitment from nearly everyone in the local community, along with state and federal policymakers; it relies on groundswell of advocates pursuing a common agenda. An agenda that: 

• Advances homeownership opportunities for low-income households. 

• Promotes access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing.

• Promotes financial stability for individuals and families.

• Cultivates and preserves healthy and vibrant communities. 

Now more than ever, the Habitat network has a unique voice to bring to policy discussions related to affordable housing. We have the responsibility to promote concrete, practical public policy housing solutions, ensuring that more families can find appropriate, quality, affordable housing within our communities. 

Stable, quality housing - having a fixed place to call home - leads to numerous benefits. “A safe, decent, affordable home is like a vaccine,” Dr. Megan Sandel of the Boston University School of Medicine testified to Congress in 2007. “It literally prevents disease. A safe home can prevent mental health and developmental problems; a decent home may prevent asthma or lead poisoning; and an affordable home can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.” 

With housing costs at an all-time high, there is a clear need to leverage the existing ways in which Habitat improves housing conditions - by advocating practical and impactful public policy solutions to meet the affordable housing needs of many more families. 

In 2023, we will provide you with a window into our collective public policy interests within our local community and across the state. We look forward to partnering with you and other community members to support positive, practical, nonpartisan housing solutions.