August, 2018 Newsletter
This month's theme:
U.S. Elected Officials Who Represent Waco
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Executive Director's Message
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I Voted!
Do you remember the first time you voted? I sure do! As a young college student, I drove home on Election Day and voted alongside my aunt and uncle. Only a few things stick in my memory. One, this historic election marked the first time a major party nominated a woman for one of the nation’s top offices. Geraldine Ferraro did not become Vice President of the United States as Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale decisively won re-election. Two, my uncle told my aunt how to vote. I was shocked by his words and horrified that she made the mark as she had been instructed! The irony was not lost on me of how antiquated their roles seemed to be while a woman was on the ballot. Finally, I knew about nothing or no one else on the ballot.
How often do you go to the polls unprepared? Better yet, how often do you go to the polls? I believe every vote matters and that everyone has a voice. We need to use our voices and vote. Our informed choices help us be better citizens.
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If you are not registered, then do so. If you are registered, then do your homework and vote. Don’t just wait around to vote for the President and Vice President every four years, vote locally, vote for state initiatives and vote for our national endeavors.
Waco Habitat for Humanity serves as a McLennan County voter registration site, so if you are not registered then stop by and complete the process. If you are registered, then research who and what will be on the ballot in November. When you walk in to cast your vote, be informed and mark each response with confidence. Then, put that sticker on your shirt and let everyone know,
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Brenda Shuttlesworth, Executive Director
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We hold these truths to be self-evident - -
. . . that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . (The Declaration of Independence)
Last month we celebrated the creation and adoption of these words by a small group of young brigands in 1776. (The average age of the 56 signers was 44, although more than a dozen were younger than 35.) The Declaration of Independence marked the first step of a 242 year journey that continues today. We instituted a government, ostensibly to secure unalienable rights. While not mentioned in the sacred text, decent and affordable housing certainly is required for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments at all levels, national, state, and local, have incrementalized policies and laws affecting access to housing, starting with some version of the “Castle Doctrine,” where each home owner has inviolate rights to a specified residence. Incremental changes ultimately paved the way to support the idea of public housing and affordable homes.
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President Jimmy Carter on a Habitat build (abodshelters.com photo)
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. . . . Is affordable housing an unalienable right?
Affordable housing is a complex concept that is built on social variables including family income, regional wages, taxes and insurance, neighborhood characteristics, political will, among others. Recent news reports suggest a grim picture.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition released a report on June 6 concluding that nowhere in the country can someone working a full-time minimum wage job afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment.
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Home ownership is out of the question for low-income earners, requiring 2, 3, or more household incomes to afford mortgage payment, taxes and insurance. Incidentally, 2017 property taxes for Waco Habitat Homeowners averaged $1,481, with a high of $3,503. Put in perspective, $1,481 per year is $0.72 per hour; $3,503 annually amounts to $1.69 per hour. It is easy to see how the cost of home ownership exceeds the means of far too many persons in the United States.
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. . . . representing self, constituents, or party
Local elected officials face a host of conflicting demands. Low-income persons have to live somewhere and the 5
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Street Bridge in Waco isn’t a viable location. Homeowners in “upscale” neighborhoods place significant importance on the comparable value of other houses in their neighborhood. Homes having a lower-than-average property value generally are unwelcome. Negotiating an acceptable compromise between constituents, each of whom wants the best for self and family, can be a no-win situation.
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Elected representatives follow one of three philosophies in choosing a given political position. They may choose to follow their own personal convictions; they may follow what they believe to be the general will of their constituents; or they may follow the direction of party leaders. Achieving affordable housing offers a particular challenge, especially for those representing residents of Waco.
A person seeking election in Waco will experience organized push-back from those who believe that each person has the ability to provide for themselves.
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Congressman Bill Flores, US Representative, 17th Congressional District (Huffington Post Photo)
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Public support is almost always reason to doubt that a person is self-sufficient. Others will doggedly hold to the NIMBY principle, (NIMBY = not in my back yard) arguing to deny construction of any lower-than-neighborhood-average-value homes.
Consider the three philosophies: 1) Personal conviction. No matter how dedicated I might be to the idea of affordable housing in Waco, I’m likely to find insufficient support among both constituents and other elected officials to mount a sustained effort for public funding. 2) Will of constituents.
Few will be surprised that the link between preferences and policies turns out to be stronger for higher-income Americans than for the poor. 3) Party line. Party-line voting has become the new normal. As recently as the early 1970s, party unity voting was around
60% but today it is closer to 90%
in both the House and Senate.
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President George W. Bush and Laura on a Habitat build in Waco
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What’s to be done?
The song goes: “I need a hero . . .” Without a champion to lead the way, incremental change in affordable housing availability may be the only option. Even with a hero (President Jimmy Carter is a leader in the fight for affordable housing.), housing remains on the back burner at local, state, and national levels. As with any elected office, the avenue that leads (very slowly) to change is: register to vote, vote, write, call, and email elected representatives. Then wait. It is difficult not to be cynical, but representational government does not move quickly. Last, we can hope for better. . . .
August marks the annual recess of legislative work in Washington, D.C. to allow elected officials to spend time in their local communities. Reach out to elected officials and let them know you appreciate their service, and while you’re at it, ask them to support programs that help people achieve home ownership. Home ownership has singular and demonstrably positive impacts financial security, health and education.
To facilitate contact, click on one of the buttons below and call the representative's local office to get schedule and appearance dates.
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Contact info for national legislators
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Coming in August -- HAMMER TIME!!
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SAVE THE DATE!!!
Habitat Harvest, November 15, 2018
5:00 - 8:00 pm. -- Phoenix Ballroom, 401 S. 3rd
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Register to vote at the Habitat office,
220 N. 11th Street, Waco, TX
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Waco Habitat for Humanity
is a McLennan County
voter registration site!
Director of Operations Megan Hochstatter is now a Deputy Voter Registrar! If you have not registered to vote, stop by the Waco Habitat for Humanity Office and ask for Megan.
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To register to vote in Texas,
- You must be a citizen of the United States.
- You must reside in the county where you are registering.
- You must NOT be a convicted felon who is currently incarcerated, on parole, or probation.
- You must NOT have been declared mentally incompetent in a court of law.
Bring one of the following photo ID cards:
- Driver's license
- U.S. passport
- State ID card
- Military identification card
- Tribal ID card
The last day to register to vote before the upcoming General Election on November 6, is October 9.
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Mission Moment--
Director of Operations
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The August Mission Moment is with Megan Hochstatter, Director of Operations for Waco Habitat. A native of New York, Megan moved in 2013 to find warmer weather. In view of this July's temperatures, we can only say: Welcome to Central Texas and Waco!
Megan came to Waco Habitat in 2016, starting as Grants and Contracts Specialist, and became Director of Operations in 2017. Megan is responsible for
servicing our homeowners’ mortgages, Habitat’s financials and human relations.
Megan contracted Habititus (the incurable need to help people with affordable housing) when she was able to come alongside families in the beginning stages of homeownership or a repair partnership. The Habititus bug really took hold when she found she could continue to walk alongside them during their journey of life.
Megan says, "I get to be an active part of many people’s stories after they become homeowners and continue to celebrate life’s happy moments and be there when
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Megan Hochstatter, Director of Operations
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they are struggling. It's not often you get to grow with those you do business with in the way that Habitat encourages."
Megan has 2 daughters, Olivia 3,
and Piper 2.
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Waco Habitat for Humanity
Administrative Office -- 220 N. 11th St., Waco, TX 76701 Phone: 254-756-7575
ReStore -- 1224 Franklin, Waco, TX Phone 254-756-0131
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