ELECTION DAY IN VIRGINIA IS NOVEMBER 3, 2020!

Millions who have lost income or incurred health costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be able to afford the place they call home. Housing instability will continue after the pandemic.

Pledge to vote this November to make the #CostOfHome affordable!

Check out https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ to register to vote, check your voter information including your polling place, view your ballot or learn more about mail-in, absentee or early voting!  Virginia voters can vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Friday, September 18, 2020 to Saturday, October 31, 2020.
WHAT IS COST OF HOME?
Today, one in six families pay half or more of their income on their rent or mortgage, often choosing between paying for housing or nutritious food, reliable transportation or healthcare needs. That is unacceptable.

Through the Cost of Home advocacy campaign, Habitat for Humanity is mobilizing local organizations, partners, volunteers and community members across the country to find solutions and help create policies that will allow 10 million individuals to have access to affordable homes.

​The Cost of Home campaign increases home affordability by influencing policies focused on:
  • Increasing supply and preservation of affordable homes
  • Equitably increasing access to credit
  • Ensuring access to and development of communities of opportunity
  • Optimizing land use for affordable homes​

HABITAT'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS

The Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg team has made some great strides in the Cost of Home campaign locally. We have:
  • Joined an advocacy coalition of local Virginia Habitat affiliates to create a broader reach in affordable housing
  • Advocated for housing in the Virginia Governor's budget during the special legislative session
  • Kept a non-partisan approach by reminding the public to register to vote in our Habitat ReStore locations and on our social media pages
  • Asked our local elected officials to support the Virginia Housing Trust Fund
  • Worked with CHACE (a statewide coalition of housing advocates) to educate our local elected officials on our 2020 housing policy priorities as well as housing affordability and homelessness amid COVID-19

The work does not end here. We will keep working until the #CostofHome is something we all can afford!
SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
​We need your help to launch Cost of Home in our area! Here’s what you can do to help make the Cost of Home something we all can afford: 
  • Stop by our office and take a picture with our Cost of Home square!
  • Share on your social media pages that you support the Cost of Home!​ Use #CostOfHome and tag us @Habitatpgw!
  • Volunteer! We need volunteers to help organize letters and postcards to local legislators urging them to support policies that improve housing affordability!
  • Take the Cost of Home pledge!
  • Learn even more about Cost of Home and policies we support in Virginia here!
For more information or to support the Cost of Home advocacy campaign, please contact Maerine Mitchell (helper@habitatpgw.org) at 757-913-5652.