{"id":4028,"date":"2026-03-10T13:57:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/?p=4028"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:57:18","slug":"lobbying-for-change-habitat-for-humanity-advocates-for-affordable-housing-in-tallahassee-and-washington-d-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/lobbying-for-change-habitat-for-humanity-advocates-for-affordable-housing-in-tallahassee-and-washington-d-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Cabildeo por el cambio: Habitat for Humanity aboga por la vivienda asequible en Tallahassee y Washington D.C."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Captura
Micah (left), Kelly (center), and Jaylon (right) pictured in Tallahassee at Habitat Florida State Lobby Day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This February, Habitat for Humanity was represented at state and federal lobbying conferences, advocating for resources to continue the pursuit of affordable housing solutions. Representing Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka was executive leader, Kelly Pisciotta, Chief Operating Officer of the affiliate, accompanied by successful Habitat homeowners, Jaylon and Tiffany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Advocacy in Tallahassee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the first week of February, Habitat affiliates from across the state of Florida joined together for Habitat\u2019s State Lobby Day. This conference gave Florida\u2019s Habitat leaders the opportunity to speak with their state representatives about the organization\u2019s initiatives, both statewide and locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habitat Seminole-Apopka was one of nearly 30 Florida affiliates registered for the event. With representation from across the state, advocates were able to share homebuying journeys and triumphs, in addition to other important affordable housing topics, such as how the organizations work to utilize private-public funding and partnerships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After hearing the inspirational story of Jaylon<\/a> and his son Micah\u2019s journey to homeownership, Representative Doug Bankson reflected on the importance of homeownership, saying, \u201cNow you\u2019ve got the stability, and it opens up the ability to dream. You can think farther down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bankson,
Pictured Kelly, Jaylon, and Micah with Representative Rachel Plakon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Homebuyer,
Pictured: Jaylon and Kelly with Representative Jason Brodeur.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Homebuyer,
Jaylon with Representative Doug Bankson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Rita,
Pictured: Micah, Jaylon, and Kelly with Representative Rita Harris.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Speaking Out on Capitol Hill<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From February 9th<\/sup> to the13th<\/sup>, Kelly traveled with Habitat homeowner, Tiffany, to Washington D.C. to participate in Habitat for Humanity International\u2019s 20th<\/sup> annual legislative conference, Habitat on the Hill. Kelly and Tiffany were joined by nearly 500 Habitat advocates to ask Congress to act and address affordable homeownership needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of the conference is to bring forward the issues of affordable housing shortages to federal legislators in hopes of action. The current shortage of starter homes is causing the dream of homeownership to remain out of reach for many potential homebuyers, keeping more people in the rental market and causing a scarcity of affordable rental housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe need to continue to make sure that our voices are heard, and we want our homeowners to understand that their voices matter.\u201d<\/p>Kelly Pisciotta, COO of Habitat Seminole-Apopka<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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While in Washington D.C., Habitat advocates focused on asking representatives to support the HOME Reform Act, which expands income eligibility and flexible funding uses in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and the Whole Home Repairs Act, which will establish grants and forgivable loans for low-income homeowners and small landlords to fund essential repairs, while still maintaining cost affordability. In addition, Congress was asked to fund the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) and other vital loan programs which all help organizations like Habitat for Humanity to construct, preserve, and finance more affordable housing units. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success at Capitol Hill means increased resources to be used for affordable housing solutions and more hardworking families who can successfully achieve homeownership. While discussing the importance of Habitat on the Hill, Kelly remarked that \u201cwe all have one purpose at the end of the day, and that\u2019s for safe, decent, and affordable housing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Tiffany: A Successful Habitat Homeowner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Tiffany successfully signed the closing papers and moved into her Habitat home with her two daughters. While in the Habitat homebuyer program, Tiffany was working multiple jobs, studying to receive a master\u2019s degree, and caring for her children full time. Reaching her goal of homeownership has helped to build confidence in herself and structure for her family. She says owning a home \u201chas really created a legacy and a foundation for me and generations to come.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Habitat Homebuyer Program has inspired Tiffany to become more involved in her local community and encourage others to do the same and engage with causes that are important to them. Tiffany laid the foundation for her own advocacy interests when she attended Habitat on the Hill with Kelly Pisciotta in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Tiffany
Tiffany with Sen. Rick Scott plaque.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Tiffany
Tiffany in front of capitol building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Tiffany
Tiffany speaking to legislative aids.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Tiffany\u2019s experience at Habitat on the Hill was filled with talking to legislative aids about her homebuying journey, and networking with other homebuyers from across the country. She shared photos of her home with Senator Ashley Moody\u2019s legislative aid and met a homebuyer in North Carolina who should be closing on their Habitat home in the coming months. Tiffany also had the opportunity to connect a Habitat for Humanity in San Francisco with her family member who works for the city, forming a new partnership to continue working towards rising levels of affordable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis organization literally has helped me get a home, and now they\u2019re helping me develop myself professionally as well.\u201d<\/p>Tiffany Davis, Habitat Seminole-Apopka Homeowner<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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After advocating for affordable housing at Habitat on the Hill, Tiffany realized she has an interest in attending campaign school and running for office one day. She aspires to possibly become the first female black mayor of Oviedo, and she hopes to continue to advocate for Habitat\u2019s mission throughout Central Florida. Tiffany reminds us that with stability \u201cthe options are open and endless to the things that we can achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This February, Habitat for Humanity was represented at state and federal lobbying conferences, advocating for resources to continue the pursuit of affordable housing solutions. Representing Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka was executive leader, Kelly Pisciotta, Chief Operating Officer of the affiliate, accompanied by successful Habitat homeowners, Jaylon and Tiffany. Advocacy in Tallahassee During the first week […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":4029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"iawp_total_views":116,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4028\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitatseminoleapopka.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}