Sussex Habitat's Gilmore meets with legislators in Washington, D.C.

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kevin Gilmore was in Washington, D.C. for Habitat on the Hill 2016, Habitat International's 10th annual legislative conference. Each year Habitat staff, volunteers and homeowners from across the country gather to discuss Habitat's legislative priorities and hold face-to-face meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

This year's theme, Framing the Future, captures Habitat's focus on the housing challenges ahead, the policy solutions needed to address them and equipping housing advocates with the tools necessary to shape the future of housing. On the final day of the conference, attendees focused on Solid Ground, Habitat's global advocacy campaign on access to land for shelter and met directly with representatives from federal agencies whose programs support Habitat's efforts to develop affordable housing around the country.

Gilmore and representatives from Central Delaware Habitat met with Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney to emphasize three key issues directly impacting Habitat. First, they asked them to advance housing reform legislation that ensures broad access to mortgage credit, creates an explicit federal guarantee for mortgage-backed securities and provides targeted housing assistance to low-income households.

Secondly, they made specific requests for three FY17 appropriations because these funds have a large impact on Habitat and the communities in which they work: HOME funds $1 billion, SHOP funds $15 million and Corporation for National and Community Service funds $1.1 billion.

Finally, they asked that they look out for Habitat International's upcoming international advocacy campaign called Solid Ground, which promotes land rights for individuals around the world.