[VANCOUVER, WA (2/15/2019)] Representatives of Evergreen Habitat for Humanity joined hundreds of other Habitat leaders, homeowners, and volunteers in Washington, DC, this week to encourage lawmakers to support policies that promote broader access to safe, decent and affordable housing to address the affordable housing crisis facing communities across the U.S., including Clark County, WA.
“With scarce affordable housing options available, many families in Clark County are forced to decide between spending money on a safe and stable place to live and food to eat,” said Josh Townsley, Executive Director. “No one should have to make that choice, and so we are telling Congress to prioritize affordable housing this year.”
Bold action is needed to address the increasing costs of housing. Habitat is calling on federal lawmakers to support comprehensive legislation that addresses the housing affordability crisis across the rental and homeownership spectrum. Recent budget requests submitted by the current administration have proposed eliminating programs that are used by local communities to finance the development of new, affordable homes. Habitat and other affordable housing advocates have worked with Congress to reject those cuts in previous years.
Josh Townsley and Dakota Palmore, local Habitat homeowner, met with Senator Murray and staffers for Senator Cantwell to impress upon them the need for CDBG, HOME, and AmeriCorps funding to advance the development of affordable housing in Clark County.
These programs are vital to Habitat’s work locally and around the US. AmeriCorps is a critical 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.
Like Evergreen Habitat, hundreds of local organizations across the country are concerned about the impact that affordable housing cuts will have on families and children.
Evergreen Habitat is calling on Congress to prioritize budget solutions that will invest more resources, not less, in programs that support efforts to build and maintain affordable housing.
“More than 18 million American families are spending at least half their paychecks on housing. Even middle-class workers like teachers are unable to find housing that fits within their budgets,” said Chris Vincent, vice president of government relations and advocacy for Habitat for Humanity International. “It should come as no surprise that we want to make sure our voices are heard in Washington this week so that programs critical to Habitat are fully funded.”
The Home Depot Foundation is the premier sponsor of Habitat on the Hill 2019, and has been a key supporter of Habitat for over 10 years, investing more than $19 million in new construction, repair and rehabilitation projects for U.S. military veterans and their families through the Habitat's Repair Corps program. In addition to its commitment to Habitat, last year The Home Depot Foundation committed an additional $250 million to other veteran causes taking their total veteran commitment to half a billion dollars by 2025.
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About Evergreen Habitat for Humanity
Since 1991, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity has worked to improve living conditions for low-income Clark County residents. The non-profit organization works in partnership with people in need from all walks of life to develop communities by building safe, affordable housing. Homes are sold at no profit with a zero percent interest rate mortgage after the partner families complete their sweat equity hours.
For additional information or to schedule an interview with an Evergreen Habitat for Humanity beneficiary, please contact Josh Townsley, Executive Director, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, at 360-737-1759.
About The Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap and support communities impacted by natural disasters. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested $250 million in veteran causes and improved more than 41,000 veteran homes and facilities in 4,000 cities. In 2018, the Foundation committed an additional $250 million to veteran causes taking the total to half a billion dollars by 2025.
To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation and see Team Depot in action, visit thd.co/community and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @teamdepot and on Facebook at facebook.com/teamdepot.