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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton will join hundreds of local Habitat organizations and affordable housing advocates on Capitol Hill in Washington. D.C. to amplify the growing demand that Congress take action to expand the supply of affordable starter homes to address the national housing crisis.  

During Habitat on the Hill, the three-day, D.C. based event, advocates from 48 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico will travel to meet with Congressional leaders. 

Affordability remains a top issue facing Americans, and rural, urban, and suburban communities nationwide are experiencing this historic loss of affordable homeownership opportunities, which is driving the overall crisis.  

The shortage of starter homes impedes workers’ access to job markets with economic opportunities, holds back local economies, exacerbates the wealth gap, and keeps millions of would-be homebuyers in the rental market.  

But there is hope. For the first time in recent decades, there is growing momentum in Congress to tackle the issue. 

Both the House and Senate have taken important steps in advancing bipartisan housing legislation – the Senate through the ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651) and the House through the Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644). Congress must keep this momentum going, work to combine these two packages and pass a bipartisan housing package as soon as possible that will take meaningful action to help address our nation's housing crisis and increase supply.  

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton will meet with Senator Bernie Moreno, Senator John Husted, and Congressman Mike Turner to urge their support.  

In addition to the legislative priorities above, advocates will urge representatives to: 

• Fund the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) at no less than $20 million in the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill.   
• Fund the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) at no less than $1.5 billion in the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill.   
• Fund the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program at no less than $1.25 billion in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill.  

This year, advocates will also call on elected officials to act and champion Habitat’s legislative priority, the Homeownership Supply Accelerator, a plan designed to rapidly increase the construction of affordable homes in the United States.  

The Homeownership Supply Accelerator aims to create a source of flexible financial assistance that supports property acquisition, new home construction and rehabilitation, and other financial barriers faced by for-profit and non-profit developers serving modest-income homebuyers . 

This milestone year marks the 20th Habitat on the Hill, coinciding with Habitat for Humanity’s 50th anniversary. Over the last five decades, Habitat has helped more than 65 million people build or improve the place they call home.  

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, the first Habitat affiliate in Ohio, was founded in March of 1983. Since then, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton has partnered with over 340 families to provide safe housing through an affordable Habitat mortgage and hundreds more through our critical repair program. Our Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. To learn more about our mission or how you can get involved, visit us online at daytonhabitat.org.