Around the world, 1 in 3 people wake up each day without the stability and security of a safe, affordable home. This global housing crisis affects families in every community — including right here in DC & Northern Virginia. To meet this challenge, Habitat for Humanity is launching Let’s Open the Door, an effort designed to ignite a worldwide movement for housing access and opportunity. As we celebrate 50 years of partnering with families and communities, we’re inviting people everywhere to take action and help open doors that have long been closed.
Through hands-on builds, compelling new research, pop-up experiences in select cities and storytelling that elevates lived experience, Let’s Open the Door shines a light on the realities families face — and the solutions that can help transform them. As part of this global effort, a Let’s Open the Door pop-up door installation will appear in Washington D.C. on April 11 and 12 at the National Mall by the Hirshorn Sculpture Garden at 7th St. NW. This interactive moment invites residents, passersby and visitors to learn more about:
- the realities families face in our community
- what stable, affordable housing makes possible
- how local Habitat programs help open doors every day
Habitat for Humanity worked with local artists to design the doors, with Katty Huertas designing the door for D.C. Katty Huertas is a multidisciplinary artist born in Colombia and based in Washington, DC. In describing her inspiration, Huertas says, “I approached this project taking direct inspiration from where I live. I included family photos on the wall; one of my grandma when she was young, and the other of my husband and me. I also included my two cats in the piece, as I believe it is a privilege to be able to take care of others.” Learn more about Katty Huertas here!
Our local Habitat plays a vital part in the mission behind Let’s Open the Door. Here in D.C & Northern Virginia, we are working every day to widen access to safe, decent, affordable housing through programs such as our:
- Homeownership Program: partnering with families in DC & Northern Virginia at 30-80% area MFI looking for first-time home ownership
- Home Repair Program: partnering with families in DC & Northern Virginia at 30-80% area MFI looking for low-cost home repairs, accessibility modifications, and aging-in-place support
- Advocacy: working with local representatives and coalitions to pass legislation that makes affordable housing more accessible for everyone
Our programs echo the themes of the global campaign: removing barriers, strengthening communities and opening the door to stability and opportunity. Families in DC and Northern Virginia face many of the same challenges highlighted in Let’s Open the Door. By sharing our work and connecting it to this worldwide effort, we’re helping more people understand what’s at stake — and how local solutions create lasting change. To explore Let’s Open the Door and the impact Habitat is making around the world, visit habitat.org/open-door.