In a time like this, the cost of home becomes more and more important. Before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 18 million families in the U.S. were already paying half or more of their income on housing. Now, with more than 16 million Americans filing for unemployment, the situation is likely much worse. Families are facing additional economic hardship from lost wages or layoffs and are now confronted with impossible choices between trying to pay their rent or mortgage and life’s other essentials. Habitat families are certainly not exempt from this pressure. Across one local affiliate alone, roughly 70% of Habitat families reported some kind of lost income.
This current crisis is exposing and highlighting one of our nation’s biggest problems and something we at Habitat have been working to address since our founding – the need for every family to have a decent place to live. As we’ve said on social media – “you can’t shelter in place, self-quarantine or regularly wash your hands if you don’t have a home.”
Habitat affiliates and their families (as well as other non-profits across the country) are in need of help. Habitat affiliates have been forced to close their doors and stores. If you are so inclined to help, we have two ways you can help.
First – make a donation to your local Habitat affiliate. Every little bit helps and your support in these trying times would mean the world to our affiliates. Find your local affiliate here and make a contribution on their website.
Secondly, even if you can’t afford to contribute, there is still something else you can do to help – raise your voice to members of Congress to let them know they need to act for Housing stability and support for non-profits. The CARES Act included some measures to provide economic relief for families and businesses, but Congress needs to go further to support families struggling to afford life’s essentials and nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity that serve our communities. Please email your members of Congress to urge them to continue prioritizing the needs of low-income families and the organizations that work hard to serve them. You can reach out through this link.
Whether you can help financially or with your time, knowing you have Habitat’s back means the world to us. Thank you so much for your support!