Habitat SKKC returned to Olympia on February 18 for our second annual Housing Impact Day, and we brought with us more passionate affordable housing advocates! Housing Impact Day is a full day during the Washington State legislative session dedicated to direct engagement with state legislators and their staff. Participants included Habitat staff, homeowners, homebuyers, volunteers, and supporters who shared why affordable homeownership matters and advocated for policies and funding that support it.
Washington is in a housing affordability crisis, particularly in King County and the Puget Sound region, where housing costs far outpace what many households can afford. Because of this, legislators need to hear directly from constituents about how housing policies affect real people, not just from professional advocates or statistics.
At Housing Impact Day, advocacy shows up as the act of everyday people influencing government decisions by sharing their experiences, values, and priorities with elected officials. Housing Impact Day is an important reminder that advocacy is accessible and impactful. It does not require expertise, only a willingness to speak up.
Habitat SKKC’s Advocacy and Policy Manager Ryan Makinster explained the need for advocates to share their personal stories: “This is an opportunity to create connections between our mission, homeowners’ experiences, and legislator’s policy decisions. All work together, but it’s important for elected leaders, especially when they’re in the middle of a legislative session, to connect the dots. As they’re looking at legislation or funding decisions they are making, it can seem clinical, and we need to put color around that. Your voice is more important: You bring the heart. That’s what really moves legislators to make the decisions to support our efforts addressing this housing crisis.”
Attendees kicked off Housing Impact Day with a morning meeting to review talking points, legislative updates, schedules, and expectations for the day. Participants were then assigned to small meeting groups that included at least one constituent of the legislator and an experienced advocate or staff member. Groups spent the day moving between scheduled 15‑minute meetings where they shared short personal stories related to housing and Habitat’s impact, supported by a clear “ask” provided by Habitat.
During their 34 meetings, Habitat SKKC advocates asked that elected officials prioritize affordable housing in the capital budget and invest as much money as possible towards affordable housing in the Housing Trust Fund.
Meanwhile, Chief Advocacy Officer, Ryan Donohue was testifying in support of some of our policy objectives, such as restricting the use of pocket listings in real estate as well as making it easier to bring infill-style condominium projects to the market. Ryan later noted that “Housing Impact Day is always a great opportunity to highlight the importance of homeownership to the housing continuum and having the opportunity to bring Habitat voices into the room at the same time we are testifying on important issues makes this one of the best days of the year.”
Longtime Habitat SKKC volunteer Vince S. took part in Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day, a different advocacy day put on by other partner organizations including the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, several times in past years, and was excited to join for the second annual Housing Impact Day. He reflected, “I believe the lack of affordable housing is one of the most serious issues facing our society. If many people struggle to afford — or cannot afford at all — the basic necessity of decent shelter, our entire city, state, and nation are worse off. This has to be a central concern for our government at all levels, and it must find meaningful ways to partner with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity so that they can do more to provide the needed affordable shelter. Habitat can’t solve the problem for each family, but the problems Habitat solves tend to stay solved.”
If you’re interested in participating in next year’s Housing Impact Day, learn more and sign up for our Advocacy Alerts here. No advocacy experience is required, and participants are supported with preparation, materials, and staff guidance.
