On February 11, 2026, Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter joined Habitat affiliates from across the country in Washington, D.C., to advocate for policies that expand access to affordable homeownership. Our team met with representatives from both the House and Senate to share the challenges families face in our community and across the nation—and to ask Congress to act.

Affordable homeownership is more than a roof over one’s head. It provides stability, strengthens families, and creates opportunities for generational wealth. Yet across the U.S., the shortage of starter homes is driving prices higher and making the dream of owning a home unattainable for many hard-working families. This shortage impacts rural, urban, and suburban communities alike, limits access to jobs, and contributes to the growing wealth gap.

In D.C., we made three key asks:

1. Pass Bipartisan Housing Legislation
Both the House and Senate have advanced important bills—the Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644) and the ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651). We urged Congress to come together quickly to pass a final bipartisan housing package that addresses the shortage of starter homes and strengthens programs that help families achieve homeownership.

2. Fund Proven Federal Housing Programs
Congress can help families afford a home by fully funding programs that make it possible for nonprofits like Habitat to build, preserve, and finance affordable housing. We asked for:

• $20 million for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)

• $1.5 billion for the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)

• $1.25 billion for the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program

These programs are critical for helping families in our community and nationwide.

3. Support the Homeownership Supply Accelerator
Habitat is proposing a new federal initiative—the Homeownership Supply Accelerator—to tackle the nation’s affordable starter home shortage. This program would provide financial support for acquiring land, building new homes, and rehabilitating existing properties, helping nonprofits and developers expand homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families.

Meeting with our representatives in D.C. gave us the chance to share how the shortage of affordable homes directly impacts our work here in Lake and Sumter counties. Rising land costs, labor shortages, and supply chain challenges make it harder to build homes for families who need them most. By advocating at the federal level, we are helping ensure families in our community have a path to homeownership.

We left Washington inspired and ready to continue this work. With strong leadership from Congress and ongoing support from our local community, we can make the dream of owning a home a reality for more families in Lake-Sumter and across the country.