Building Thriving Communities for All (Op-Ed)

Building Thriving Communities for All (Op-Ed)
Newsweek
July 23, 2024

Our homes represent stability and safety. They are tied to schools and job opportunities, and they are often investments in our futures. But from coast to coast, in rural communities, bustling cities, and sprawling suburbs, the dream of owning a home or even finding an affordable rental option is out of reach for millions of people. It's a national emergency, but as the leaders of the United Way and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), we've seen that this trend can—and must—be reversed.

Our organizations witness the struggles families face to make ends meet. Parents are forced to make impossible choices between bills, childcare, medication, or food. Young people put off the education they need, and older people find their retirements disappear as they try to keep a roof over their heads. The 211 network—a national social service hotline which connects people in need to safety net services and is supported by United Way—has received more calls about housing assistance than any other service for the last six years. Last year, housing assistance referrals were nearly double their pre-pandemic numbers with more than 5 million calls received. While housing insecurity is on the rise across communities, it's an especially dire situation for people of color, those with disabilities, low-income earners, and others who often lack equal access to opportunities. In 2023, the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) reported the highest number of housing discrimination complaints ever filed in a single year.

Having a safe place to call home is a basic human right and we all share the responsibility to uphold it. Many have accepted that call to action. Nonprofits, community leaders, and advocates are working tirelessly to help those impacted but more needs to be done.

Thankfully, we already have a tried-and-true tool to help us build resilient communities with affordable housing—the landmark Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act promises fair and equal access to housing and ensures all individuals are treated fairly and equitably in the housing market. However, one key mechanism has not been fully adopted by the federal government—the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) mandate. This mandate requires communities receiving federal housing and community development funds to proactively address factors contributing to housing discrimination, segregation, and the lack of affordable housing options as well as the resulting disparities. If federal agencies adopt an AFFH Rule now, we can dismantle systemic barriers to fair and affordable housing and create more equitable communities where everyone thrives.

There's another tool that could be used to do much more to support struggling families—211. This helpline connects people to localized support services, including emergency shelter, temporary housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, housing counseling, and other critical services. While 211 is a life-saving resource for millions, it is not federally funded. Federal funding would allow a sustainable, more robust 211 infrastructure. The bipartisan Human-Services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act would invest in and strengthen the 211 network.

These programs are critical to combatting housing insecurity. But they also help create neighborhoods with clean air and water, public transportation, living wage jobs, quality health care, healthy foods, high-speed internet, safe and affordable credit, and well-resourced and high-performing schools. These programs help to create the foundation of resilient communities, where families can grow, succeed, and give back to the neighborhoods they love. They benefit us all.

That's why United Way and NFHA are working to not only support people struggling to stay in their homes today, but also defend and advance important priorities like AFFH and the 211 network, so we can strengthen our communities tomorrow and for many years to come. Still, from contacting your representatives about supporting priorities, like the HELP Act and AFFH, to getting involved with national and local advocacy organizations, everyone has a role to play in this movement, and we hope you'll join our fight.

When former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act more than 50 years ago, he declared that fair housing for all "is now a part of the American way of life." That dream is not yet a reality, but with courage and commitment from our leaders, it could be. Together, we can end housing discrimination, secure safe homes for all families, and build a future where fair housing is not just a dream, but a reality for all.