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Child Anti-Poverty Advocates are Housing Advocates

CHILD ANTI-POVERTY ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES Housing is the foundation for successful outcomes in all areas of life and low-income children need safe, affordable, and accessible housing to develop physically […]

OSAH Campaign Announces 2024 State Partner Grantees

NLIHC’s Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign has awarded capacity-building grants to seven state-based organizations that will work to advance the national campaign’s goals. Each grantee will use its funding […]

Multi-Sector Advocacy: A Look Ahead

Join Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) on November 9 at 2:30 pm ET for “Multi-Sector Advocacy: A Look Ahead,” a virtual event that will unveil the campaign’s robust plans for […]

New Grant Opportunity for State-Based Organizations

The campaign announces a new grant opportunity for state-level organizations interested in expanding multi-sector partnerships and influencing federal housing policy. It is critical that elected officials in the U.S. Congress hear […]

Campaign Outlines Priorities for 118th Congress

The campaign submitted a memorandum to members of the 118th Congress urging policymakers to address one of the most critical issues facing people today: the lack of decent, stable, affordable rental […]

Campaign Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act

President Biden has now signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and while there is certainly much to commend in this proposed legislation, such as hundreds of billions for climate […]

Campaign Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership

On June 13, the campaign sent a letter to Congress urging robust housing investments in any future reconciliation legislation for housing vouchers, public housing, and the national Housing Trust Fund […]

Campaign Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership

On January 27, the campaign sent a letter to Congress urging robust investments in the Build Back Better Act for housing vouchers, public housing, and the national Housing Trust Fund. Specifically, […]

Expert Interview: Dr. Claudia Solari

Claudia D. Solari is a senior research associate in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute, where she studies housing instability. Solari specializes in social inequality […]

2021 Public Opinion Poll on Housing Instability

The campaign commissioned a national public opinion poll through The Tarrance Group to assess the public’s opinions and perspectives on issues related to housing affordability and potential policy responses. The […]

Campaign Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership

On August 31, the campaign sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to 1) expand rental assistance by $180 billion, 2) invest $70 billion to repair the nation’s public housing […]

The Connection Between Housing and Health

Researchers weigh in on the relationships between housing and well-being–and how policies recently introduced in Congress can make a big difference. When thinking about the multi-dimensional impact of housing on […]

Eviction Crisis Act: What It Is and Why It Matters

On June 23, 2021, a bipartisan group of senators–Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rob Portman (R-OH),  Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Todd Young (R-IN)–reintroduced the Eviction Crisis Act, a critical piece of legislation […]

Campaign Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership

On June 14, the campaign sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to 1) expand rental assistance to every eligible household, 2) invest $70 billion to preserve public housing. and […]

Gender Equity & Housing

Gender Equity advocates ARE housing advocates. Fair access to safe, accessible, and affordable housing in integrated neighborhoods is vital to the wellbeing of women and girls. Housing impacts health, education, […]

Aging and Housing Fact Sheet

AGING ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES The U.S. Population of Older Adults is Increasing at Historic Rates, and Older Low-Income Renters Face a Growing Threat of Aging into Housing Instability and […]

Campaign Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership

On January 26, the campaign sent a letter to Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy urging them to 1) provide $30 billion in emergency rental […]

Campaign Sends Letter to President-Elect Biden

On January 15, the campaign sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden, urging him to take immediate action to prevent a catastrophic wave of evictions by issuing an Executive Order […]

Campaign Sends Letter to CDC Director

On December 16, the campaign sent a letter to Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging him to take immediate action to prevent […]

Racial Inequities in Housing

Decades of structural racism have created tremendous racial disparities in housing, and that legacy continues to shape the present landscape.  Racial disparities in housing manifest in several ways: Housing Affordability […]

Join Us for Virtual Lobby Day – July 21

    Take Action Today View this email in your browser. NEW VOICES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES   Participate in Virtual Lobby Day! Tell Congress to Include Vital Housing Resources in […]

CAMPAIGN URGES SENATE TO ACT ON COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE

On June 1, 2020, members of the campaign’s Steering Committee and Roundtable sent an updated letter to congressional leadership urging the Senate to immediately consider vital housing provisions contained within […]

LGBTQIA+ Equity and Housing Fact Sheet

LGBTQIA+ ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES Research is increasingly clear that safe, stable, accessible, and affordable housing is a critical driver of positive outcomes in many areas of life, but such […]

Housing is Health in 2020, The Year of the Nurse

By Kristine Gonnella, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium The World Health Organization declared 2020 as “The Year of the Nurse and Midwife” in honor […]

Campaign Hosts Event at National Press Club

On January 16, 2020, the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign hosted an event at the National Press Club in Washington DC entitled “Broadening the Movement: Housing as a National Priority […]

National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the […]

Housing is Safety

By: National Network To End Domestic Violence  Housing is safety for survivors of domestic violence and their children. Access to housing allows victims to break free from abusers and escape homelessness. […]

National LGBTQ Task Force

The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. The National LGBTQ Task Force educates federal policymakers about the need for non-discrimination protections that ensure […]

Why Affordable Housing Matters for Environmental Protection

By: Khalil Shahyd – Senior Policy Advocate, Natural Resources Defense Council Having safe, healthy, and affordable housing options is integral to ensuring low-income families have access to sustainable livelihoods, and quality […]

Domestic Violence & Housing Fact Sheet

Domestic violence can cause housing instability and homelessness for women and their children.   “Victims of domestic violence struggle to find permanent housing after fleeing abusive relationships. Many have left […]

Environment & Housing Fact Sheet

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES To solve the climate crisis, we have to solve the housing crisis. “The lack of affordable housing in many cities forces households into suburbs, exurbs, […]

Disability Rights and Housing Fact Sheet

PEOPLE with disabilities ARE OFTEN “priced out” of sTABLE, AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE housing “Nationally, the average rent for a modest one-bedroom rental unit was $861, equal to 113% of the national […]

JustLeadershipUSA

JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA) is dedicated to cutting the US correctional population in #halfby2030. JLUSA empowers people most affected by incarceration to drive policy reform.  JLUSA is the first organization in the country […]

National Network to End Domestic Violence

The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is a social change organization dedicated to creating a social, political, and economic environment in which violence against women no longer exists. […]

April Newsletter

      Take Action Today View this email in your browser. NEW VOICES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES   Campaign Unveils National Polling Results; Finds Vast Majority Believes Housing Affordability Should […]

AARP

For many Americans age 50 and older, a single event – a lost job, a health crisis, the loss of a spouse or partner – can quickly lead to catastrophic […]

Butler Family Fund

Alleviating Poverty, Making a Difference Butler Family Fund envisions a world where members of society do not have to choose between housing and food, and where everyone can have faith […]

December Newsletter

16 Cosponsors in Senate for Affordable Housing Task Force Legislation The “Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act” (S.3231) now has 16 bipartisan cosponsors, indicating significant […]

Catholic Charities USA

The Catholic Charities ministry in the United States is designed to help people in need at both the local and national level. Our 164 member agencies faithfully serve the unique […]

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a non-partisan research and policy institute which works at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect […]

November Newsletter

Listen to the Latest Podcast Episodes Available Now on iTunes Episode 7 features Andrew Sperling, Director of Legislative and Policy Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI […]

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for more than 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. […]

Children’s HealthWatch

Children’s HealthWatch is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and child health and policy experts committed to improving the health of young children and their families by informing […]

Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization working to build the consumer and community leadership that is required to transform the American health system. Community Catalyst believes that this […]

October Newsletter

Take Action! Send a Letter to Congress to Support a Bipartisan Task Force On July 18, 2018, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Angus King (I-ME), along […]

FRAC

The Food Research & Action Center is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. FRAC believes: lead efforts to identify and […]

Funders for Housing and Opportunity

Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO) is a cross-sector, non-partisan, national funder collaborative with a shared vision: That all renters, regardless of income, can afford safe, stable housing in communities […]

Campaign Hosts Inaugural Roundtable Meeting

On Tuesday, September 18, the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign hosted its first Roundtable meeting. Representatives from 70 multi-sector organizations, including housing, education, healthcare, civil rights, anti-poverty, seniors, faith-based, anti-hunger, […]

Opportunity Starts at Home: State Campaigns in the Spotlight!

Coalition Building in California Housing California has been building the capacity of regional partners to educate and engage residents of affordable housing developments in policy advocacy through its Residents United Network (RUN). […]

Derrick Johnson Discusses Opportunity Starts at Home

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), explains the importance of housing to the civil rights community, why racial inequities cannot […]

National Alliance to End Homelessness

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to end homelessness in the United States. Using research and data to find solutions to […]

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

What is NAMI? NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by […]

July Newsletter

The US Conference of Mayors Endorses The Campaign “Communities across the country are challenged by ongoing federal disinvestment in affordable housing. The research is clear that housing is inextricably linked to […]

NAACP

Founded February 12, 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized civil rights organization. It’s more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and […]

National Association of Community Health Centers

Founded in 1970, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance and expand access to high-quality, community-responsive health care for America’s […]

Bob Greenstein Discusses Opportunity Starts at Home

Bob Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, discusses the affordable housing crisis, why it demands a multi-sector response, why it demands federal action, and […]

National Association of Social Workers

Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. NASW works to […]

National Education Association

The three million members of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest professional organization, work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA members also include retired […]

National League of Cities

The National League of Cities was founded in December 1924 by 10 state municipal leagues that saw the need for a national organization to strengthen local government. As the organization’s […]

National Low Income Housing Coalition

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent […]

UnidosUS

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through its unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and […]

Opportunity Roundtable

What is the Opportunity Roundtable? The Opportunity Roundtable is a new initiative which enables the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign to raise awareness about the intersections of housing and other […]

Opportunity Starts at Home Newsletter (May 2018)

May 2018 What is Opportunity Starts at Home? The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign is a longterm, dynamic, multi-sector housing campaign to meet the rental housing needs of the nation’s […]

FRAC Chat: Opportunity Starts at Home

By Jim Weill | FRAC President The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) has joined with a diverse group of national organizations to launch a new Opportunity Starts at Homecampaign to […]

Anti-hunger advocates ARE housing advocates

“Families are borrowing from already-limited food budgets to keep a roof over their heads” Quoted from Children’s HealthWatch, Hunger and Affordable Housing  “Severely cost-burdened renters are 23 percent more likely than […]

Opportunities for Latino Families Start at Home

  By: UnidosUS For the last 50 years, UnidosUS has worked to empower Latinos to contribute to our nation’s prosperity and share in its economic opportunities. We believe the stability […]

What is Opportunity Starts at Home?

Housing affordability is central to other national priorities, like health care, economic growth, food security, education, civil rights, and more. But the affordable housing crisis has reached historic heights, most […]

Recruit New Voices

Chances are high that if you’re reading this website, you’re already in the housing sector.   But the point of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign is to broaden the […]

Housing Affordability Challenges

AMERICA IS EXPERIENCING A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS “In no state, metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. can a worker earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage […]

Broadening the Movement: A Multi-Sector Response

The nature and magnitude of the severe shortage of affordable homes demands a broad, multi-sector response. Housing affordability is central to achieving better health, higher educational attainment, and longer lifetime […]

National Policy Agenda

To download the full report, click here. To have your organization endorse the National Policy Agenda, click here.  

Campaign Goals

The goals of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign are to advance federal housing solutions that: Bridge the growing gap between renter incomes and rising housing costs Provide aid to […]

Education Advocates are Housing Advocates

EDUCATION ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES “One of the most important mechanisms through which housing impacts quality of life is through educational attainment. Safe, affordable, quality housing provides a foundation from […]

Good Housing is Good Health

HEALTHCARE ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES When a family’s housing situation is unaffordable and insecure, chances to lead a healthy life dwindle rapidly. Safe, stable, and affordable housing prevents long-term health […]

Racial Equity and Housing Fact Sheet

RACIAL EQUITY ADVOCATES ARE HOUSING ADVOCATES Racial inequities are deeply rooted in racist housing policies. “More than 300 years of exploitive and racist housing policies fostered many of the socio-economic […]

Affordable Housing Enables Moving to Opportunity

Affordable housing enables moving to opportunity, which improves long-term life outcomes Economic mobility and anti-poverty advocates ARE housing advocates.  Safe, affordable housing enables low-income people to climb up the income […]

Housing Investments Spark Economic Stimulus and Job Creation

Housing investments spark economic stimulus and job creation Economic productivity advocates ARE housing advocates. Investments in affordable housing are a proven catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and development. According […]

Anti-homelessness Advocates ARE Housing Advocates

Access to affordable housing increases stability for vulnerable households and helps avert homelessness. Significant bodies of research show that rental assistance decreases the likelihood that low-income households falls into homelessness. “Extensive […]

Criminal Justice and Housing Fact Sheet

Criminal justice reformers ARE housing advocates.  Individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system need a good place to call home so that they can reconnect with society and rebuild […]

The Affordable Housing Need for Veterans is Large

The affordable housing need for veterans is large Veterans advocates ARE housing advocates.  After having served our country bravely, veterans need access to good affordable housing so that they can […]