Twin Cities Habitat's 2025 Federal Priorities

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity just returned from Habitat on the Hill in Washington, DC, for our annual conference and hill day with affiliates from across the country. We met with Minnesota’s congressional members to advocate for federal policies that advance affordable homeownership. This year was especially impactful because we had the opportunity to bring a large group of advocates with us from the Twin Cities. Our Government Affairs Team was joined by our CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer, as well as two staff members from our lending team, two Habitat homeowners, and a former Board Member and longtime volunteer. Each person brought invaluable insight and skills to the experience, from the passionate storytelling of our homeowners to the expertise of our lending and public funding staff on how we utilize federal funds. We were grateful to meet with the offices of five Minnesota Representatives that cover our metro area and both Senators.

Local Habitat advocates meet with Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Twin Cities Habitat relies on funding at all levels of government to advance our goal of ensuring everyone can own an affordable home, and federal investments are a crucial part of this. Our team works to elevate federal priorities that impact our work specifically for the communities we serve, as well as policy goals shared with the greater Habitat network that help increase the supply of affordable homes across the country. While meeting with congressional members, we urged them to preserve and increase funding for certain programs in the fiscal year 2026 budget, and support policy decisions that advance racial equity in housing. Here’s what we discussed:

• The HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are vital sources of funding that we rely on to create and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. With increasing land and construction costs, it’s essential these programs remain funded going forward so we can continue to make homeownership accessible to working-class families.

• The AmeriCorps program has a long history with our organization, and its members play crucial roles in our ability to build and rehabilitate homes. The program equips them with valuable skills, and many members continue working or volunteering with Habitat after their AmeriCorps term.

• The Homeownership Supply Accelerator would create a new source of flexible financial assistance for the construction of new starter homes. Given the lack of supply of these homes in our housing stock, innovative solutions like these are badly needed to keep up with the demand across our country and unlock homeownership for those facing the greatest barriers to it.

• Tax policy will be a key focus of Congress this year, and we encouraged members to uplift homeownership in any tax package that is passed. This can be achieved through a permanent extension of the New Markets Tax Credit program, a vital resource we receive through the Department of Treasury that incentivizes development in low-income neighborhoods and is up for reauthorization this year. We also urged lawmakers to support the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA), which would provide a federal tax credit to build and rehabilitate homes for low- and moderate-income families. We also advocated for protecting the tax-exempt status of charitable nonprofit housing providers and restoring a charitable deduction for non-itemizers.

Local Habitat advocates meet with Senator Tina Smith.

Beyond elevating our legislative priorities, this week provided opportunities for attendees to learn about effective advocacy strategies, meet with other Habitat members from across the country, and reflect on the values and mission we seek to embody through our shared work. For our homeowners, it was also a chance to share their stories with lawmakers face-to-face. Hearing directly from constituents and clients is one of the most impactful parts of Hill Days, allowing elected leaders to see real examples of how these programs impact the people they represent. For Carroll Alihonou, who closed on her home in 2023, engaging in advocacy went beyond her own experience:

“As a habitat homeowner, I believe in the power of advocacy to create lasting change. I told my story on Capitol Hill, in hopes that every family gets the stability and opportunity that comes with a safe and affordable home.”

Carroll (left) sharing her story with policymakers at Habitat on the Hill D.C.

Carroll and LeAndra, the other Twin Cities Habitat homeowner on our trip, were both compelling and effective storytellers who emphasized the widespread impacts of homeownership for them and their families. In addition to being a tool for building generational wealth, Habitat homeownership can mean kids doing better in school, improved health, and families that feel connected and empowered in their communities.

Lou Cristan, a former board member who has been volunteering with Habitat for decades, discussed with lawmakers how much goes into making homeownership a reality for more families in the Twin Cities, from public funding to the efforts of our volunteer crews:

“I was quite surprised at the positive reception and reaction from our congressional delegates to learning about the volunteer perspective and commitment of time and talent to building affordable housing.”

Congress is still working on its budget for fiscal year 2025, which it has until March 14 to do, as well as determining its priorities for the following year. We are keeping in touch with congressional members throughout this process and are hopeful our priorities will make it through negotiations. At the same time, we’re aware of the many factors that will make this challenging, including calls for spending cuts and differences among congressional leaders. As Lou reflected, the supportive but realistic outlook from many members “reinforced the need for us to continue to make sure our voices are heard through continued advocacy. Time well spent but much work still lies ahead.”

Want to help take action? Click below to send a quick, pre-drafted email to your lawmakers asking them to support Habitat’s federal advocacy priorities. Your voice as a constituent is vital in amplifying our message to congressional members.

While we wait, we’re staying busy advocating at local and state levels as well, and we’re already planning for the next Habitat on the Hill in Minnesota. On May 13, we’ll gather at our state’s Capitol to advocate for our state legislative priorities, and we hope you’ll join us! This event is free, open to everyone, and no experience is necessary. It’s a great opportunity to make a difference in your community and put your values into action.

To stay up to date and take action virtually, you can also sign up for action alerts from our Government Affairs team.