[From left to right] Asheville Habitat Communications Specialist Maddy Alewine, Government Relations and Grant Manager Cassidy Moore, Chief Executive Officer Andy Barnett, and Transylvania County Habitat Resource Development Manager Toni Thayer.
Voices in Action, Building Toward Our Vision
Reflections from Habitat on the Hill
Following their recent trip to Washington D.C. for Habitat on the Hill, Asheville Habitat staff Maddy Alewine, Communications Specialist, and Cassidy Moore, Government Relations and Grant Manager, sit down to discuss and reflect on the experience.
Maddy: What is Habitat on the Hill?
Cassidy: Habitat on the Hill is Habitat International’s annual legislative conference that convenes advocates in Washington, D.C. for three days of intensive discussions, training sessions, networking, and direct advocacy opportunities with our members of Congress. Last week, Maddy, Andy, and I joined more than 400 advocates representing over 1,000 local and state Habitat organizations across the U.S. We gathered on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to prioritize federal policies and investments to address the severe shortage of affordable starter homes.
Cassidy: What does a day on the Hill look like?
Maddy: There is a lot packed into each day at Habitat on the Hill. Most of the first big day takes place in the hotel we were staying at. Everyone was in this large ballroom and we heard a lot of back-to-back speakers talking about the importance of advocacy, sharing inspirational messages and stories. Then we broke out into smaller groups to attend a session, I went to a media and advocacy session that was really interesting.
Another session was a poster exhibit, which I describe as a science fair. Cassidy submitted a poster for AAHH about our collective advocacy work with BAHN, the Buncombe Affordable Housing Network. So people would come up to us and ask questions and we’d share our work with them.
Wednesday is the big day you actually go to the Capital buildings to meet your officials. We meet up with other NC folks. Toni from Transylvania Habitat joined the three of us representing Western NC. We all bus over to the buildings and split up, the four of us met with a staffer for Rep. Edwards and then Cassidy and Andy joined a group that met with a staffer for Sen. Tillis.
A panel discussion during Habitat on the Hill
Andy Barnett speaking with a staff member of Sen. Thom Tillis’s office.
Maddy: How will Habitat continue this work now that we’re back home?
Cassidy: Now that we are back home, we will continue to amplify the need for policies and investments to address the shortage of affordable starter homes by engaging with our local, state, and federal government officials and staff. We will also continue our local efforts advocating for anti-displacement strategies such as home repair and property tax programs and advocating for an equitable and just recovery from Helene.
We will continue our coalition work with the Buncombe Affordable Housing Network and continue to act as a regional leader in affordable housing. We will invite our elected officials to events, attend public meetings and give comment, and continue to be a uniting voice that brings people of all backgrounds together around our mission.
Maddy: What inspired you?
Honestly, all the little one on one conversations you have with people just reminded me that we’re not alone in this work. I met a homeowner from Cleveland, Ohio, a woman from LA, super nice people from Minnesota, etc. It’s inspiring to hear what they’re doing in their communities.
Cassidy: I’m inspired and energized by all the different ways that Habitat affiliates get the work done. Advocacy can look a lot of different ways – from advocacy podcasts, to coalition work, and from bold conversations and events, to engaging young and emerging leaders – the network is really creative and innovative.
The Common Ground dinner hosted by York County Habitat in South Carolina definitely inspired me. Common Ground is a family-style meal and facilitated discussion with the goal of bringing together community members to build unity and understanding. Guests share stories, listen to each other with open hearts, and explore how to build a stronger community. We are already brainstorming around how we might bring something like this to our community.
Maddy: For folks interested in advocacy, how can they get involved?
Cassidy: The simple answer is – staff, donors, volunteers, ReStore shoppers, and homeowners already involved in advocacy. We do it every day. Advocacy doesn’t have to be complex policy work or meeting with elected officials. Every day when we show up and demonstrate our values with volunteers on the jobsites, in the ReStore, with our clients and homeowners, and with each other – we are advocating for Habitat and demonstrating our belief in a world where everyone has a place to call home.
Sharing about the work that we do in the community is advocacy. Showing up for our community and each other is advocacy. If you want to get even more involved, please sign up for our Advocacy Alert email.
Advocates from affiliates across North Carolina
