Safe Homes, Stronger Voices: Advocacy Training at ReFrame Conference

With the safety and stability of low-income households under threat, from federal cuts to basic needs to widening inequities, home repair professionals aren't just builders; you’re key advocates for housing justice. Attending the Advocacy & Resources track at ReFrame Conference 2025 equips you with the tools, data, and strategic insights to amplify your impact faster and more effectively.

The Budget Reality Behind Our Work

The recently passed H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) reshapes federal priorities in ways that directly affect our field:

• Housing Incentives Expanded:
  Increases to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and an extension of Opportunity Zones could channel billions toward new construction and neighborhood revitalization. These resources matter, but they don’t reach every aging home or low-income family in need of repairs.
  
  

• Healthcare & Energy Cuts Looming:
  Offsetting these tax breaks are reduced investments in healthcare and clean energy programs, meaning fewer federal dollars flowing to programs that intersect with safe housing (like weatherization, energy-efficient rehab, and health-focused retrofits).
  
  

• Budget Trade-Offs for Families:
  The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill will increase the federal deficit by $1.4 trillion over 10 years, raising pressure for cuts in other safety-net programs, many of which low-income households depend on for food, medicine, and utilities. For families already making impossible choices, housing safety is at risk of being deprioritized.
  
  

These shifts underline why home repair nonprofits must step into the advocacy space. Without strong voices ensuring repair is included in housing conversations, resources may bypass the very families most in need.

Inside the Advocacy & Resources Track

Scheduled for November 12–14, 2025, this track zeroes in on the essential intersection of repair work and broader housing advocacy. Here's what’s on the agenda: (coalitionforhomerepair.org)

• Home Repair Headlines: Effectively Communicating Program Impact – Melanie Campbell, Coalition for Home Repair
  
  

• Rebuilding Together: Collaborative Approaches to Home Repair Post-Disaster – Nancy Money, After the Storm
  
  

• Building a National Home Repair Movement: Deterioration and the Affordable Housing Crisis – Panel led by Todd Swanstorm
  
  

• Cross-Market Strategy for Neighborhood Investment – Panel led by Alese Springer, LISC Detroit
  
  

• Strengthening Programs Through Healthcare Partnerships – Kevin Chan, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
  
  

• Driving Change Through Advocacy – Panel led by Emma Carrasco
  
  

• Walls That Talk: Storytelling and Data-Driven Advocacy – Panel led by Audra Butler, Communities Unlimited
  
  

Together, these sessions equip you to turn policy changes and budget realities into advocacy that matters.

Why These Sessions Matter More Than Ever

Federal Shifts Require Local Action
With billions in housing incentives on the table, but offset by cuts in programs that touch health, food, and energy, home repair professionals must advocate to ensure resources reach the people who need them most.

Amplify Impact Through Numbers
By pairing budget data with human stories, you can make a compelling case to lawmakers.

Build a Movement, Not Just Programs
Repair homes, yes. But also build the narrative, networks, and momentum to shape policy and keep families safe long-term.

Register & Advocate

1. Register for ReFrame now.

2. Prioritize the Advocacy & Resources sessions to equip your team for local advocacy.

3. Return to your work armed with tools to tell your story, connect budget realities to home repair, and integrate partnerships that make justice tangible.
   
   

Share with your team, board members, fundraisers, and volunteer coordinators. Everyone can benefit from this advocacy uplift.