In Virginia, 1 in 8 households spend half or more of their income on housing. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, nearly one-third of households across the nation faced housing cost burdens — paying either 30% of their income for housing (cost-burdened) or 50% of their housing income (severely cost-burdened) – due to increased housing costs and growing income inequality. As the economic fallout from the pandemic continues, millions of families are at risk of losing their homes and more than 37 million households are cost-burdened, with little income to afford food, health care and other basic necessities. With more than 17 million severely cost-burdened households in the U.S., advocating for home affordability and stability for homeowners and renters is more important now than ever before. 

 

In collaboration with local and state Habitat organizations across the country, we are urging our members of Congress to take action to help ensure families and individuals have a safe place to call home during and after the pandemic. Join us in urging federal lawmakers to support

Mortgage assistance for low-income homeowners impacted by the pandemic to prevent foreclosures now and after forbearance ends. 

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to revitalize distressed neighborhoods by using federal income tax credits to mobilize private investment to build and rehabilitate homes for moderate-income homeowners.  

Robust funding for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program – two federal programs that enable Habitat and other organizations to expand opportunities for home affordability. 

 

You can raise your voice for increased home affordability and stability by taking one of the steps below:  

 

Tweet at Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to urge them to support the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act to ensure families have access to communities of opportunity. 

Email your members of Congress to urge them to support policies that prevent major losses in homeownership and expand access to affordable homes.  

Share on social media why you support making the #CostOfHome something we all can afford. You can use our sample message below:  

Even before the pandemic, 1 in 8 households in Virginia spent half or more of their income on housing. I believe that everyone – no matter who they are, where they’re from or what they earn – deserves a decent place to live. That’s why I’m advocating for increased home affordability and stability. #CostOfHome. 

 

Fauquier Habitat for Humanity remains committed to ensuring families have a stable place to call home during and after the pandemic. To stay up to date on our work – including our advocacy priorities and progress – sign up for our mailing list. 

The issue: housing affordability 

As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Fauquier Habitat has joined the Cost of Home National Advocacy Campaign to work alongside housing advocates, Habitat homeowners, volunteers and supporters, and our local government to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to meet their most basic needs. 

Families all across the United States are paying too high a price to cover the cost of their home. Rents and homeownership costs are skyrocketing, while wages are not keeping pace. Far too often, families struggle to make ends meet. At Fauquier Habitat for Humanity, we know that a family should never have to spend more than 30 percent of their income on a home. But consider that today over 19 million U.S. households pay half or more of their income on a place to live. 

That is unacceptable. 

In Virginia, 1 in 8 families are denied the personal and economic stability that safe, decent and affordable housing provides. Instead, 1 in 8 families are forced to make impossible choices. 

Safe homes. Nutritious food on the table. Health care. Access to good schools. Reliable transportation. 

Which would you choose? 

Habitat for Humanity knows the complexities that surround the cost of a home. We also know the struggle, stress, and pain of far too many families in our communities. And we know that those with the fewest resources are forced to make the hardest choices. We have to take a stand and declare our commitment: No family should have to pay more than half of their paycheck to cover the cost of a home. Everyone deserves to build the foundation for a strong, healthy future for themselves and their families — no matter where they live or how much money they earn. 

Every family deserves the chance to thrive.  

How can I help?