Today, one in eight families pay more than half of their income on their rent or mortgage, often choosing between paying for housing or nutritious food, reliable transportation or healthcare needs. That is unacceptable.

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6 ways to advocate for affordable housing

No matter where you live — whether you’ve advocated before or are just getting started — you have the power to influence housing policies and solutions to create large scale impact.

And it’s a lot easier than you might think!

With Habitat for Humanity, you can add your much-needed voice to the work that’s enabling housing affordability in your community and those around the world.

Jump in — here are six overarching practices to keep in mind as you advocate for adequate, affordable housing.

1. Learn.

You don’t need to be an expert on housing, but it would benefit you to have a general understanding of your local housing issues, particularly as they pertain to the most underserved in your community. 

Learn more about your community by following local news, signing up for relevant community newsletters, watching or attending meetings with elected officials, and following social media accounts that cover local issues.

2. Connect.

Start small. Reach out to your local representative or official by email, handwritten note or phone call. Simply introduce yourself and let them know that you care about adequate, affordable housing.

Introducing yourself to policymakers can be a powerful way to push housing higher up on their agenda. We know Congress is hearing from constituents about housing costs — the recent elections showed us it was a major issue for voters. Congress must help address the historic low supply of affordable entry-level homes to address this supply shortage at scale — the private market alone cannot address the undersupply of starter homes. 

3. Share.

Everyone has a relationship with housing, and it can be impactful to share why housing is important to you. 

Share your housing story (what housing has meant to you or why you advocate for affordable housing) with friends, neighbors and local officials and invite them to share their story in return.

4. Join.

Find local organizations, like Habitat, already advocating for adequate, affordable housing in your community. Existing housing groups and coalitions can facilitate events, help shape policy priorities and connect you with community members with similar interests.

5. Mobilize.

Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to join in your efforts for adequate, affordable housing. More housing advocates taking action means more and better housing policies.

6. Celebrate and reflect.

Meaningful change can often take time. Remember to pace yourself and cherish every win — big or small — along the way. If wins are slow to come, reflect on the relationships you’ve built through advocacy within your community and know that every action you take is a step in the right direction.