At this year’s Habitat on the Hill (Feb. 10-12, 2026), Habitat SKKC leadership joined close to 500 other Habitat for Humanity representatives from across the country in Washington D.C. to advocate for abundant affordable housing. This year’s Habitat on the Hill fell during a milestone year: It’s Habitat SKKC’s 40th anniversary, Habitat for Humanity International’s 50th anniversary, and the 20th anniversary of the annual advocacy conference.
This year’s conference theme was “Our Voices Open Doors,” and together, we opened a lot of doors at our nation’s capital! Alongside our colleagues from other Habitat affiliates, Habitat SKKC CEO Brett D’Antonio, Chief Development Officer Amy Farrier, and Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donohue had the opportunity to meet with some 300 lawmakers. Their aim was to build on the momentum of recently passed legislation in both the Senate and House: The Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act (S. 2651) and the House’s Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644).
Habitat representatives came to their meetings equipped with a list of affordable housing priorities they wanted to put directly in front of elected officials:
- Funding for the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program at no less than $20 million in the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill
- Funding for the Home Investment Partnerships Program at no less than $1.5 billion in the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill
- Funding for the USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program at no less than $1.25 billion in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration appropriations bill
As we did last year, Habitat affiliates once again urged legislators to champion the Homeownership Supply Accelerator, the innovative federal policy concept that will make homeownership a reality for hardworking people nationwide.
Reflecting on his time in D.C., Ryan Donohue said, “Being able to go to Washington, D.C., and talk with our representatives about the importance of affordable housing and homeownership is critically important. We make the trip to the other Washington once a year because putting affordable homeownership on the agenda is something only Habitat for Humanity can do.”
“If we are going to build a world where everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home, we need the federal government to play a part,” he continued. “Fortunately, our representatives in D.C. understand that and fight for us in the halls of Congress every day.”