Advocacy
Pillars of Advocacy
Affordable Homeownership Supply
At Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, we advocate for innovative policy solutions to increase the supply of affordable homes in El Paso County. We support strategic initiatives that prioritize land acquisition for nonprofit housing providers, reduce zoning barriers to construction, and lower development costs through reduced fees and taxes.
By investing in construction financing, creating tax incentives, and providing financial assistance to close affordability gaps, we can help ensure more local families have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing opportunities.
Equitable Homeownership Access
Everyone deserves a fair chance to achieve the stability and opportunity that homeownership provides. Pikes Peak Habitat champions policies that address historical barriers to homeownership through expanded down payment assistance, equitable mortgage underwriting, and fair appraisal practices.
We advocate for improved lending in underserved markets, better utilization of housing choice vouchers for homeownership, and targeted tax incentives for low and moderate-income families. These efforts help ensure that the path to homeownership is accessible to all members of our community, regardless of background or circumstance.
Homeownership Resilience
Helping families maintain their homes creates lasting benefits for families, neighborhoods, and our entire community. Pikes Peak Habitat supports investment in critical home repair programs that help low-income homeowners address urgent needs and make necessary safety modifications.
We support property tax relief measures, affordable homeowner’s insurance options, and climate resilience programs that lower utility costs. We also back reforms that facilitate intergenerational wealth transfer, helping to secure homeownership benefits for future generations and strengthen families throughout El Paso County.
Cost of Home: Five Years of Impact
The Cost of Home campaign has been a cornerstone of Habitat for Humanity’s advocacy efforts, addressing the housing affordability crisis across the U.S. In Colorado, where housing costs have soared, this campaign has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that directly impact families in need of affordable homeownership.
To learn more, explore the full Cost of Home Cumulative Report.
Voices in Action: Amplifying Our Advocacy
As we look toward the future and build on the success of the Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity is uniting its advocacy efforts under the banner of Voices in Action. This initiative strengthens our ability to influence housing policy, particularly here in El Paso County, where housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges facing families today. Through Voices in Action, we are increasing our capacity to work with lawmakers and community leaders at the local, state, and federal levels to push for policies that ensure more families can achieve affordable homeownership.
By advocating for systemic changes that directly impact housing affordability, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, in tandem with Habitat for Humanity Colorado, remains at the forefront of impactful change in our state, helping families build the stability and security that come with homeownership. After all, homeownership IS affordable housing.
Local Advocacy Efforts
Supporting Sustainable Homeownership
Pikes Peak Habitat champions policies that expand the availability of and access to safe, affordable housing for all community members.
From our deep understanding of housing and its central role in providing opportunities for families, we work to reform laws in a non-confrontational, nonpartisan way. Advocating for sustainable and inclusive policies and systems that promote access to decent housing is critical to achieving our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
The Foundations of Prosperity
A record shortage of starter homes across the U.S. is driving up housing costs — causing many families to face extremely difficult choices between housing and other basic needs — and pushing the dream of homeownership out of reach for hard-working families and first-time homebuyers nationwide. No investment is as beneficial as homeownership for wealth building.
Please join Habitat for Humanity in ensuring everyone has an affordable place to call home by adding your voice and asking your friends and family to do the same.
Current Asks of Our Legislators
We invite you to strengthen our collective voice by urging policymakers to invest in affordable homeownership solutions that transform lives and communities. By joining the conversation today, you help ensure that hardworking families can achieve the stability and security that comes with having an affordable place to call home.
1. Finalize the fiscal year 2025 appropriations process as soon as possible, providing robust funding for vital housing and community development programs.
2. Support the following programs in the FY2026 budget:
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD bill):
- Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program
- Department of Agriculture (Ag-Rural Development bill):
- USDA Section 502 Direct Loan Program
3. Support the Homeownership Supply Accelerator, Habitat’s innovative federal policy concept to make homeownership a reality for hard-working families nationwide. As envisioned, the accelerator would be a new source of financial assistance to spur the construction of starter homes across the U.S.
4. Ensure that any tax package includes provisions that increase the supply of starter homes and protect the tax status of nonprofit housing providers.
A Healthy Return on Investment
“No investment is as beneficial as homeownership for wealth building.”
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity advocates tirelessly for policies that expand access to safe, affordable housing through non-confrontational, nonpartisan reform efforts. Through strategic advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels, they address the critical shortage of affordable housing options facing El Paso County and beyond.
Affordable housing isn’t just about providing shelter—it’s about creating the conditions for families to build generational wealth, stability, and self-reliance.
Advocacy Initiatives
Habitat on the Hill
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity participates in Habitat on the Hill, Habitat for Humanity’s annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C.
In February 2025, Karla Probert, executive assistant to the CEO/Affiliate Advocacy Ambassador, joined 475 other Habitat representatives who visited 300 legislators, including Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, as well as Congressman Crank, to ask them to support policies that promote affordable homeownership.
Colorado Springs Mayoral Candidate Forum
On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity and KRDO NewsRadio hosted a forum for the 12 Colorado Springs mayoral candidates to discuss their ideas and answer questions about affordable homeownership.
Proposition 123
Pikes Peak Habitat joined other Colorado Habitat affiliates in supporting Proposition 123, a ballot measure approved by Colorado voters in November 2022. This initiative allocates one-tenth of 1% of state income tax revenue to fund affordable housing. At a conservative estimate, Pikes Peak Habitat will double the number of homes we build and repair in El Paso County each year because of Prop 123.
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer With Us
Be part of the change you want to see in your community.
Donations
Donate to make affordable homeownership a reality.
Lend Your Voice
Join us in urging Congress to act now for affordable housing.