This week, Habitat DC-NOVA staff joined members of Habitat Affiliates around the world for #habitatonthehill. Staff from Habitat for Humanity attend this annual advocacy conference to discuss critical policies and speak directly with members of Congress for their Habitat community. Advocating for affordable housing is a critical part of what we do and transforms temporary solutions into permanent results. Our area of work is represented by Senator Kaine and Senator Warner as well as Representatives Beyer, Subramanyam, & Walkinshaw.
Our priorities for this legislative session include:
- Community Development Block Grants– Currently in use at Reeves Farmhouse
- CDBG funding is essential for advancing impactful projects within our communities. Given the rising costs of land, building materials, and professional services, these funds play a crucial role in supporting our projects. They enable us to serve a broader range of income levels, providing families who may otherwise struggle to afford housing on the open market with an opportunity to own a home.
- AmeriCorps Program
- The National Direct and VISTA AmeriCorps programs are incredibly valuable to our organization, significantly increasing our capacity to build homes and engage with our communities. On average, we hosted 7 members each year to serve as construction crew leaders and provide organizational support.
- Section 4 Capacity Building Program
- We use Section 4 grants to hire staff and cover predevelopment costs on housing projects. Our two largest upcoming projects received Section 4 funds to cover crucial predevelopment needs such as legal counsel for zoning and architecture and engineering costs.
- ROAD to Housing Act
- Passed by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in 2025, this act aims to boost the nation’s housing supply, improve housing affordability, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.
- Housing for the 21st Century Act
- Passed earlier this week by the House, this act aims to make it easier to build and afford housing, including modernizing outdated government programs, lowering costs by removing unnecessary federal requirements, and increasing local flexibility over housing decisions
- Homeownership Supply Accelerator
- Habitat’s innovative federal policy concept designed to rapidly increase construction and rehabilitation of affordable starter homes.
Regine, our Director of Policy & Advocacy was joined by Giulia, our ReStore Volunteer Engagement Fellow and Ally, a member of Habitat Young Professionals at Capitol Hill. They were able to meet with Representative Subramanyam himself and staffers for Representative Walkinshaw, Representative Beyer, Senator Kaine, and Senator Warner. In addition, Regine & Giulia presented the poster below about our legislative priorities and the work we have accomplished in DC-NOVA. While Habitat on the Hill is a three-day event, advocacy is part of our daily work in making sure everyone has a safe and affordable place to live.
