Public Policy Education and Advocacy
In a world of uncertain economic times and limited resources, it is more important than ever to ensure that there are affordable housing options for families and individuals in need for generations to come. Mercy Housing is working to be a catalyst that causes our nation's leaders to find ways to dramatically increase capacity and production to close the gap that exists between the supply and demand for affordable housing.
An essential component of Mercy Housing’s 2010-2014 Strategic Plan is its Public Policy Education and Advocacy goal. Mercy Housing’s goal is to support efforts to promote policies—both legislative and regulatory-- aimed at improving housing opportunities for those in need. Mercy Housing will engage every level of the organization to use our experience to develop and promote national, state and local policies aimed at narrowing the housing affordability gap of multifamily rental homes for lower and moderate income persons and stabilize communities. We will work with other practitioners and advocates to advance our goal.

2013 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
- Priority One: Champion the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) that are the foundation of affordable housing and community development.
- Priority Two: Advocate proactively in support of funding for HUD and USDA Rural Development housing programs.
- Priority Three: Advocate for mission-driven pre-and post-foreclosure strategies and solutions to stabilize communities severely impacted by the foreclosure crisis.
- Priority Four: Using evidence-based research collected from targeted pilot programs; educate stakeholders about the need for linked resources for affordable housing, health and wellness, and other supportive services.
- Priority Five: Ensure the availability of community capital to support a robust affordable rental housing sector, including reform of the GSEs or successor entities, and modernize the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).
Learn more about Mercy Housing's 2013 Public Policy Priorities