Last month to kick off 2026 and our 25th anniversary year, we began reflecting on the idea of “Opening Doors” and how, with your help, Habitat is opening the door to better futures and new opportunities for our homeowner families.
So, this month I want to go a step further and share what we did last week, not just to open doors here in Wayne and Lenoir counties, but across the nation! And the incredible thing is that it wasn’t just our Habitat staff and board members working to open these doors. Two of our homeowners decided to join us as we traveled to Washington, DC, joining Habitat affiliates across the country at the annual Habitat on the Hill conference where we advocated for affordable housing policies and funding that we believe will open doors for thousands of families.
Why did we do that? Because we know that Habitat, even with all the amazing support we receive from our donors and volunteers, cannot build, renovate or repair enough homes to meet the affordable housing shortage ourselves. Fulfilling our vision of everyone having a safe, secure and affordable place to call home takes system change, policy change and government-level funding. That is how we will create real and lasting change here in our community and beyond.
But what’s exciting is that right now, despite all the rancor and ill will that seems to exist at times, Congress is on precipice of actually working together across aisles and between chambers to pass the first meaningful, bi-partisan housing legislation in a generation.
And so here’s our ask to you. Contact your Rep. Don Davis and Rep. Greg Murphy. Contact Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. Tedd Budd. Remind them of the work being done in Goldsboro and throughout Wayne and Lenoir counties to address affordable housing and homeownership, and ask them to work together to reconcile the similar, but competing Road to Housing Act (Senate) and the 21st Century Housing Act (House).
If you want to know more about what this legislation means, I would love to dive into the details with you. Just email me at mwhittle@habitatgoldsboro.org. But for now, just know that the reforms included in this legislation have the power to open doors across our community, our state and our nation.
But I have to give credit where credit is due. The only reason our politicians are working together and listening to these ideas is because of brave individuals like T’Sharra Williams of LaGrange and Andreta Wooten of Dudley who are willing to sit down, look them in the eye, and share the stories that only they can tell of how an opened door has changed their lives and the lives of their children. And while Habitat may have opened that door with your help, but it is homeowners like Ms. T’Sharra and Ms. Wooten who are creating true, lasting generational change for their families and their neighbors as they not only walk through that door, but hold it open for others to come behind them as they are now helping to build homes, community and hope.
Want to see more photos from our week at Habitat on the Hill? Check out our Facebook page!
