Spotlight

Building Socioeconomic Resilience: An Interview with Alicia Johnson, Executive Director of Step-Up Savannah

Across the country, access to affordable housing continues to be a persistent issue for low- and moderate-income families. Inflation, rent increases, and the increasing homeownership gap between white families and families of color exacerbate the financial difficulties present on the long road to national economic recovery. To discuss the importance of community advocacy, access to housing and the issues surrounding persistent poverty, we sat down with Alicia Johnson, Executive Director of Step-Up Savannah.

From the Field

Join the Affordable Housing Network Steering Committee

The Affordable Housing Network is now recruiting members for its inaugural Steering Committee! Steering Committee members serve as trusted advisors to the Network, shape and inform policy and advocacy strategies, help to build and direct Network resources, develop new leaders in the field, act as ambassadors to the Network and more! Serving as a Steering Committee Member is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about the Network’s mission. A diversity of professional and personal experience is critical to the success of the Steering Committee and participation offers personal leadership development opportunities. Steering Committee Members must be members of the Affordable Housing Network and have a record of supporting and addressing the needs of those seeking affordable housing or affordable housing practitioners, advocates, and researchers.

Click here to learn more about Steering Committee member duties and expectations. You can nominate yourself and others via this form by Friday, June 17. Email Dara Duratinsky if you have any questions or concerns.

Homeownership in Assessments of Fair Housing

The Urban Institute published a new report that discusses the need to develop strategies and outline goals to address racial disparities and inequities in housing for Black and Latinx families. Black and Latinx families are less likely to own a home than white families, and the homeownership gap has increased over the past few decades. Read the full report to learn more!

In the News

Celebrating 20 Years of National Homeownership Month

Since 2002, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have recognized June as National Homeownership Month. National Homeownership Week began in 1995, under President Bill Clinton as part of an effort to increase homeownership across America. Homeownership is an essential component of wealth building. The lack of affordable housing can prevent low- and moderate-income people and communities historically discriminated against from achieving financial security.

Denver City Council Approves New Affordable Housing Policy

On June 6th, the Denver City Council approved a new legislative package that will require developers to include affordable housing units in new projects. The proposal will require developers to pay a higher fee per square foot which will subsequently be used to build more affordable housing. The policy is part of a push by Denver officials to address the growing affordability concerns in Denver for people making at or below the median income.

Events & Opportunities

Strengthening the IRS to Create a More Equitable Tax Code| Prosperity Now| June 15, 2022| 3:00- 4:15 pm EDT

Join Prosperity Now, National Women’s Law Center, Saverlife, and United Way on June 15th for a discussion on strengthening the IRS to create a more equitable tax code. Increasing IRS funding is a critical step in securing a more equitable tax code, which will benefit low-income families and families of color.

Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I’m HOME) Network Relaunch Webinar| The Lincoln Institute| June 13, 2022| 12:00- 1:00 pm EDT

Join the Lincoln Institute for a discussion highlighting the current state of manufactured housing and its challenges as well as how the Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I’m HOME) Network aims to address these issues.

Fireside Chat with the Foundation for Financial Planning: Expanding Client Wealth with Volunteer Certified Financial Planners| Prosperity Now & Foundation for Financial Planning| June 28, 2022| 3:00- 4:00 pm EDT

Join us for a Fireside Chat with Jon Dauphine, the CEO of the Foundation for Financial Planning, and Katie Taylor, where we will discuss how volunteer Certified Financial Planners can work with nonprofit organizations and their clients who may otherwise not be able to access this resource. During this Fireside Chat, we want to hear from you about how Financial Planning volunteers can take your clients to the next level and supplement your financial coaching and affordable housing and homeownership programs. There is limited space for this event – only 25 spots! Sign up here to reserve your spot (first come, first served basis). Anyone unable to attend can learn more by visiting ProBonoPlannerMatch.org or by contacting Rachel Roth, Director of Programs at the Foundation at [email protected].

Camp Prosperity| Prosperity Now| July 12-26, 2022

On Tuesday, July 12th, Prosperity Now, we’ll kick off our three-week virtual learning session aimed at local advocates, service providers, and practitioners interested in community-rooted solutions and energizing them through advocacy and policy. We will be joined by advocacy experts to cover:

The New Change Agent: Federal, State, & Local Advocacy in an Election Year | Tuesday, July 12 |2:00-3:30 pm EDT
Permission to Engage: Equipping Ambassadors to Advocate for Change | Tuesday, July 19| 2:00-3:30 pm EDT
Equity to Justice: Reimagining Strategies for Community-Driven Solutions| Tuesday, July 26| 2:00-3:30 pm EDT

2022 Prosperity Summit| Prosperity Now| September 19-22, 2022

Registration is now open for the biannual Prosperity Summit from September 19-22 in Atlanta, Georgia. The three-day conference is an opportunity to present, network and workshop with 1,500 attendees around the year’s theme of Marching On: Reimagining Economic Justice for All, where we will embrace the long history of civil rights leaders and action from the Georgia community and unite around the call for economic justice. Join us!