At Habitat Lake-Sumter, we believe that safe, affordable homeownership changes lives—and that’s why we advocate for it at the local, state, and federal levels.
This week, we’re taking those advocacy efforts to Washington, D.C., for Habitat on the Hill, Habitat for Humanity’s annual event where volunteers, homeowners, and supporters come together to champion housing policies that make a difference.
Our CEO, Danielle Stroud, and Director of Development, Lacie Himes are joining 400+ advocates to make sure our community’s voice is heard. See what they had to share about their time in our nation’s Capitol below!
Day 1: Welcome to D.C.
Our team’s day began bright and early with a 6 a.m. flight to the capital. After landing, we took some time to visit the National Mall and historic landmarks, including Ford’s Theater and the National Portrait Gallery—taking a moment to reflect on the power of leadership and change.
In the evening, we gathered at Planet Word with advocates from across the Habitat network to prepare for upcoming meetings on Capitol Hill. Connecting with other passionate housing advocates set the stage for the important conversations ahead!
Day 2: Conference Day
Day 2 kicked-off with sessions on how Habitat affiliates across the country are working to advance housing policies—both at the state level and nationwide. Our team also took a deep dive into Habitat for Humanity International’s (HFHI) national policy platform, which outlines key priorities to help more families achieve homeownership.
Later in the day, we met with other Florida Habitat affiliates to prepare for upcoming meetings with legislators. These moments of collaboration are what make Habitat Voices in Action so powerful—by working together, we amplify our impact and ensure that our communities’ needs are heard.
At Habitat, we know that building homes isn’t just about construction—it’s about creating pathways to homeownership that last for generations. This year’s Habitat Voices in Action theme reminds us that when we advocate together, we strengthen our ability to create real, lasting change.
Together, we are working to:
✅ Increase the supply of affordable homeownership opportunities
✅ Ensure equitable access to homeownership
✅ Improve homeownership resilience for families
After a full day of learning, networking, and preparing to meet with lawmakers, the team wrapped things up with an unexpected but fun twist—a snowball fight! ❄️ It was a lighthearted way to close out a busy day and recharge for the important work ahead.
Day 3: On the Hill
On our third day in Washington D.C., we joined more than 400 Habitat advocates from across the country, representing over 1,000 Habitat organizations to talk about the importance of home affordability, the current lack of homeownership supply, and some of Habitat’s legislative priorities.
We know that our representatives are diligently working to finalize the FY2025 budget, and we are asking Congress to approve the fiscal year 2025 appropriations process as soon as possible, providing robust funding for vital housing and community development programs.
We joined forces with Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St. Johns County to meet with Rep. John Rutherford to discuss these topics and advocate for his support. We also met with Rep. Daniel Webster and shared our legislative asks along with the local impact that these programs have in Lake County.
Later, we met with newly appointed Senator Ashley Moody’s office.
We finished the day at the legislative reception where Senator Raphael Warnock, among others, was honored with a Housing Champion Award.
Habitat for Humanity believes that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Safe, secure and affordable homes provide the foundation for success in so many aspects of our lives, including our health, job possibilities, and children’s educational achievement. Affordable housing for families is vital to successful local economies and forms the bedrock of strong, thriving communities.
But record-high home prices are pushing the dream of homeownership out of reach for millions of Americans. As a nation, we need new solutions and a deeper commitment to making lasting, affordable homeownership attainable for all.
Habitat cannot build our way to this vision ourselves. But by lending our voices to workable policy solutions at all levels of government, we can multiply our efforts to put homeownership within reach of millions more Americans.
