How You Can Help Today!
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has!” In that spirit, AHACO creates a monthly quick guide to help neighbors get involved in housing advocacy… no experience needed! We carefully select a variety of trending events and topics so that there’s a little something for everyone. It’s a great way to grab a friend and change our little part of the world!
April: Advocate!
The Senate just passed the most impactful housing reforms in a generation with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This bipartisan law would build homes, spark innovation, reduce red tape, expand homeownership, and deter institutional investors. Now, it’s the U.S. House of Representative’s turn to debate and pass the housing bill so it can be sent to the President. What do you think: should they slow down the momentum or move with urgency? Let your Rep know where you stand!
Do you live or work in Fairfield County? Then join a focus group on April 10th to talk about how housing can boost employment, education, and healthy finances!
New to the advocacy game? Don’t sweat it! Just tune in to the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ monthly advocacy workshop. April will highlight the economic and safety benefits of housing, essential facts to earning broad support in purple states!
April: Donate!
It takes a village! The United Way of Delaware County just launched a new community fundraiser that lets you adopt a neighborhood and join with friends to make a big difference! Your commitment supports the Young Adult Transitional Leadership Program to provide workforce development, supportive services, and housing security for young people across the county.
Join the Playhouse Project from Habitat-MidOhio! Rally your company, organization, faith group, or friends to sponsor a one-of-a-kind playhouse. They’ll pair your team with a local family and share their children's interests so you can design something truly personal. Then, roll up your sleeves and bring it to life. The best part? Presenting the finished playhouse to the family at the end of the day - no cost to them, and an experience your team won’t forget.
There’s lots of other ways to have fun with your donation… like making a gift that gets you into one of the most exciting events in town. The YWCA’s annual Women of Achievement event is April 29th.
April: volunteer!
Home for Families is seeking volunteers to support their Mother’s Day SLAM 5K event… can you help staff the water station, be a course marshal, or help with registration?
Every summer, IMPACT Community Action hosts a Beat the Heat event. You can help distribute flyers ahead of time, place yard signs in neighborhoods, assist with campus beautification projects, prepare goody bags, organize event materials, help with event setup and teardown, and welcome guests. See how!
Not sure where to begin? Start with the Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation and “Inspire your kindness journey by staying up to date on kindness research and exploring these resources for spreading kindness and growing in empathy” (plus check out a ton of volunteering needs around Central Ohio!)
April: Engage!
Spend your month with some phenomenal housing podcasts! Start with Between Four Walls, a national pod that features AHACO’ own Anna Teye Kasongo on how Columbus is expanding homeownership! Then queue up So, Let’s Talk with Central Ohio’s ultimate housing virtuoso, Michael Wilkos. Head over to LVL with Us from Homeport for insider discussion with local housing experts, like Liz Brown at YWCA Columbus. And finish the latest UCLA Housing Voice episode that goes deep into the Rental Wealth Creation Fund, which is operating right here in Cbus. If you’ve got more time, rewind with WOSU’s Untangled, an evergreen look at the region’s housing crisis.
Looking for something a little more IRL? Then join AHACO on April 3rd for our monthly Coffee & Whatever at Cure Coffee at noon… this is an unscripted, un-RSVP’ed gathering for anyone who wants to chat it out.
Check out our full Housing Events Calendar for a super active month in housing land, like a fair housing training on March 9th, a CMC on seniors aging into homelessness on March 15th, and
