Community Voices: Habitat announces 2021 legislative priorities

Access to safe, decent and affordable housing, for many in our service area, remains elusive. All too often families struggle just to afford the basic cost of a home. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected low to moderate-income households, further exacerbating the ever-growing need for affordable housing. Unfortunately, hammers and nails alone cannot fully address this social ill. Both broad-based and targeted policies need to be enacted (and sometimes repealed) to enhance access to affordable housing and ultimately accomplish our vision in which everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat for Humanity will be working tirelessly to engage stakeholders, influence policymakers and enact these priorities to expand affordable housing within our region.   

Priorities are separated into three categories (local/state/federal) and surround four issues that impact affordable housing.

1. Supply/Preservation of Affordable Housing
2. Expanding Access to Credit
3. Land Use
4. Communities of Opportunity

We currently have nineteen local legislative priorities spanning seven different municipalities and a countywide initiative in Pinellas to enact the Pinellas County Housing Compact. Be on the lookout for more information about our legislative priorities and advocacy efforts in 2021.    

Link to Legislative Priorities doc: https://habitatpwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Legislative-Priorities-for-2021-1.pdf

Mike Sutton is President and CEO at Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties.