How do the places where we gather shape how we connect? From housing to green spaces, public libraries to digital forums, the environments around us play a vital role in fostering belonging and community.

Who is having the hardest time:

• Families making less than $25,000 per year

• Only 1 in 3 low-income families say they have fully recovered

• People who couldn't afford to make all the repairs they needed

• Families who lost food, wages, and had to pay for emergency costs

Compare this to higher-income families:

• 8 out of 10 families making over $100,000 say they have fully recovered

• They were more likely to have savings to pay for repairs

• They were more likely to have insurance that covered damage

"The way we foster good public policy is through bipartisanship. Americans share a common ground that is deeper than the partisan disputes that divide us, and people on both sides of the aisle have good intentions."

— Bipartisan Policy Center Mission Statement

In one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas, affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for many working families. Habitat MCTX provides a pathway to homeownership through a model rooted in dignity, equity, and community partnership. Their approach reduces generational poverty, creates stability for families, and builds stronger neighborhoods from the ground up.

This event is part of the planning phase for redeveloping Irvinton Village under the <strong>HUD Choice Neighborhoods initiative</strong>. The planning team—led by the Houston Housing Authority, in partnership with the City of Houston, LISC Houston, Avenue CDC, LRK—wants to hear directly from community members about priorities for housing, neighborhood needs, and opportunity.</p>

No decisions have been made yet—your voice will help shape the direction of the plan.

Engagement Level:
Empowered, Activated, Informed

Why It Matters:

• Expands housing access

• Models bipartisan civic engagement

• Prevents affordability crises

Key Programs:

• Zoning policy reform

• Legislative coalitions

• Public education campaigns

Safe, stable housing is foundational for health, opportunity, and community resilience. Rebuilding Together Houston goes beyond construction—they build hope, preserve family legacies, and strengthen neighborhood identity by restoring homes for those often left out of equitable housing access.

When most people say they want more “affordable housing,” they usually mean housing that more people can afford. But within policy and development spaces, that phrase carries technical definitions—often involving things like LIHTC, deed restrictions, or income thresholds that many outside the field have never heard of.

Congress is in the midst of debating a several trillion dollar tax package while it is simultaneously working on an FY 2026 federal budget that will total over $1.5 trillion in additional discretionary spending. At the same time, the issue of housing supply and affordability has become increasingly paramount, with fewer geographies in the country where families can afford to rent, much less purchase, a decent home. It seems like this would be an ideal moment to make more investments in our housing and community infrastructure, but is Congress and the Administration ready to meet the moment?

The Connect Highstar apartment complex brings together families of varied income levels, along with commercial and retail space.

It all begins with an idea.