Evergreen Habitat joins over 340 Habitat leaders, homeowners and volunteers in Washington, D.C., to encourage members of Congress to support affordable housing
[VANCOUVER, WA (FEBRUARY 14)]-- Executive Director of Evergreen Habitat of Humanity is in Washington, DC, this week, warning that proposed federal cuts will worsen the affordable housing crisis facing Clark County and other communities across the United States.
"Too many people in Clark County are already struggling between making their housing payments and buying food for their family," said Josh Townsley, Executive Director. "We are in Washington, DC, to ask our representatives on Capitol Hill to make greater investments in affordable housing, not less."
The budget proposed by the White House this week would drastically cut--and in some cases entirely eliminate--funding that communities use to finance the development of new affordable homes. Evergreen Habitat uses funding from the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to build homes in partnership with low-income families. The White House budget proposal would eliminate those funds entirely.
Evergreen Habitat joins more than 340 Habitat leaders, volunteers, and homeowners from across the country in Washington, DC, this week to advocate for affordable housing. In meetings with Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell, Evergreen Habitat is calling on Congress to set aside the flawed budget proposal and instead work to prioritize solutions that will end the affordable housing crisis.
"There is no question that we are in an affordable housing crisis," said Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford. "More than 18 million families are paying more than half of their paychecks on their housing. Leaders in cities and towns across the country are sounding the alarm, because even middle-class workers like teachers can no longer find housing that fits their budgets. We will make sure those voices are heard in Washington this week as we meet with members of Congress."
The White House's proposed budget would also eliminate the AmeriCorps program through the shuttering of the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps is a vital component of Evergreen Habitat's work to partner with more families working toward homeownership. Thousands of AmeriCorps members have served their communities in a variety of ways, including more than 10,000 members working through Habitat where they have helped build homes and helped rebuild in disaster-stricken areas.
About Evergreen Habitat for Humanity
Since 1991, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has worked to improve living conditions for low-income Clark County residents. People in our community, and all over the world, partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
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