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Nationwide, housing costs are skyrocketing as more families lack access to a safe, affordable and decent place to call home. Here in Alabama, 1 in 8 households pay half or more of their income on housing.
Alongside hundreds of local Habitat organizations and affordable housing advocates from all over the country, this week in Washington, D.C., Alabama Habitat for Humanity’s 11 person delegation met in-person with Senator Katie Britt and Representative Mike Rogers to urge action and prioritization of policies that will increase the number of affordable homes, especially for homeownership. The Alabama delegation also had the opportunity to hold meetings with legislative directors and staff from Senator Tuberville and Representatives Sewell, Aderholt, Strong, Palmer, and Carl’s offices.
Congress can respond to this need by supporting vital housing and community development programs in 2025 and through the passage of the bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Investment Act.
There are a number of federal solutions utilized by Alabama Habitat that can help increase the number of affordable homes across the state. Those solutions include appropriation funding for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP), HOME investment partnership program, USDA Section 502 Single Family Housing Direct Loan program, and Community Development Block Grants.
“I am excited, and honored, to be invited to Washington D.C. to share my family’s story of how Habitat for Humanity provided an avenue to homeownership and helped change our lives during a very challenging time. I’m hoping sharing my story will help to bring insight to decision makers in Washington D.C. that will open doors for others to have the housing security I now experience.” Says Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County homeowner Kathleen Moore.
Alabama Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Alabama Habitat is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.
