In March, Purpose Built Communities and 25 of its Network Members gathered in Washington to connect with elected officials and their staff for our third annual Hill Day, engaging in productive discussions about policies that could positively impact housing, education, and health in neighborhoods across the country.
This year’s goal was to position Purpose Built and Network Members as thought partners to help find solutions that put more neighborhoods and families on a pathway to prosperity.
Purpose Built knows that public policy impacts people and places. Getting the policy right will accelerate the ability of Network Members to strengthen their neighborhoods so that they support people living healthy, happy, choice-filled lives.
Recent and proposed shifts in federal policies will create disruptions for housing, education, economic development, and healthcare funding, and could have far-reaching consequences, impacting affordable housing availability, school resources, small business support, and the staffing capacity of agencies responsible for administering these programs. Programs and funding streams that have been historically reliable are no longer seen as such.
What does this mean for some neighborhoods? In essence, federal funding cuts could exacerbate long-standing challenges neighborhoods face and leave communities more vulnerable to economic hardships. The impact would likely be felt more acutely in neighborhoods that are already grappling with poverty and lack of resources. But all hope is not lost. There are elected officials across the political spectrum who wish to see our holistic model replicated a hundredfold.
“Achieving good public policy is not a one-day event; it’s an ongoing effort,” said Purpose Built Communities CEO, Carol R. Naughton. “Our daily work in communities is the foundation, and connecting the people leading work on the ground with policy makers in Washington, D.C. strengthens that foundation by ensuring the voices of residents, leaders, and neighborhoods are heard at the highest levels.”
Decisions made in Washington impact neighborhoods in big and small ways. And while lawmakers may hear from lobbyists daily, nothing is more powerful than hearing from the people leading this work on the ground—people like Purpose Built Network Members.
Network Members are the collaborative, innovative strategists within neighborhoods that ensure more people will experience healthy, economically mobile, choice-filled lives.
Each year, we aim to increase meetings with elected officials on both sides of the aisle. The geographic diversity of our Network Members was seen as a strength by those seeking effective solutions. We will continue to unite as a powerful network to educate lawmakers and staff on the importance of investing in neighborhoods to create pathways to prosperity.
“Hill Day is important because it provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, or directly engage with lawmakers and government officials to influence policy decisions that affect housing, education and health,” said Davon Gray, Vice President of Policy at Purpose Built Communities. “We will continue to use Hill Day as a vital tool for shaping policy, making sure voices are heard, and ensuring that the people have access to safer communities and neighborhoods.”
Hill Day at the Capitol serves as a crucial moment for Purpose Built Communities and its partners to strengthen relationships with lawmakers and advocate for policies that uplift neighborhoods across the nation.
Through direct engagement with elected officials, the efforts of Purpose Built and the Network Members ensure that the voices of those directly impacting communities are heard and considered in the policymaking process.
This year’s successes underscore the importance of collaboration and sustained advocacy in shaping a future where all families have access to safe, thriving neighborhoods.
As Carol R. Naughton said, good public policy is a continuous effort, and the work done in Washington, D.C. this year lays the groundwork for ongoing change.
The road to prosperity for neighborhoods and families may be long, but with continued engagement, resources, and partnerships, progress is not just possible—it’s happening.
