As Cost of Home turns 1, an affordable place to live is needed more than ever

Four separate photos highlighting the Cost of Home information cards held by various Habitat LA staff/ supporters.

HABITAT LA SPOTLIGHTED THE COST OF HOME CAMPAIGN AT OUR 2019 HOLLYWOOD BUILD EVENT.

One year ago, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) joined hundreds of Habitat for Humanity organizations across the country to launch our first national advocacy campaign: Cost of Home. Through the 5-year campaign, we are mobilizing our local Habitat organizations, our partners, our volunteers and community members across the country to find the solutions and help create the policies that will allow 10 million individuals to afford the cost of home.

In the first year of the campaign, Habitat LA partnered with four of the nation’s top construction companies (Clark Construction, Gilbane Building Company, Turner Construction Company, and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company) to build four new homes in just 11 days for future Habitat homeowners in the Willowbrook area of the city of Los Angeles.

Habitat LA also spotlighted the campaign at our annual Hollywood Build event, shining attention on affordable housing with more than 300 entertainment industry executives, celebrities, corporate leaders, government officials, faith groups, and community stakeholders who worked side-by-side with current and future Habitat LA homeowners to help construct a 10-home community in Culver City. The event raised nearly $300,000 to help build, rebuild or repair over 100 homes over the next year.

The California Delegation standing and smiling for a group photo while holding signs in front of the Capitol Building.

THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION AT HABITAT ON THE HILL IN FEBRUARY 2020.

Habitat LA also attended Habitat on the Hill, Habitat for Humanity International’s annual three-day legislative conference in Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, sharing personal accounts and information encouraging support of favorable housing policies and programs in the greater Los Angeles area.

As we recognize the progress we’ve made together, we know the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the need for housing stability and affordability here in Los Angeles. Before the pandemic, more than 18 million families in the U.S. were already spending half or more of their income on housing. Now, with more than 40 million individuals filing for unemployment, the situation is likely much worse. Families are now facing additional economic hardship from lost wages or layoffs and are increasingly confronted with choosing between shelter and life’s other essentials.

That’s unacceptable. Here’s what you can do to raise your voice for housing stability and affordability right now:

Together, we can help make the #CostOfHome something we all can afford.