Is 2026 the year of housing?

According to Zachary Amos, Memphis Habitat’s Associate Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, 2026 is the year to get excited about housing. But why is that? In this episode, Zach joins Dwayne Spencer to discuss the most significant bi-partisan federal housing package in decades. They also highlight other housing policy issues, including ways to increase the supply of starter homes and how to remove barriers for developers like Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. The time to get involved in housing advocacy is now -- this episode is sure to inspire you!Connect with Zachary Amos and Habitat’s advocacy work:Connect with Zach on LinkedInRead "The appraisal trap," a guest column by Zach for The Daily Memphian (note: behind a paywall)Read "Housing Affordability Continues to Drive Voters," by Zach for Memphis Habitat on LinkedInLearn more about our advocacy prioritiesSign up for our advocacy newsletter!Zachary Amos joined Memphis Habitat in 2023 after working for almost a decade in electoral and land-use campaigns around the country. In his role, Zach works to position Habitat as a leading voice for affordable housing – advocating for policies and collaborating with officials to make the Greater Memphis area a place where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.Dwayne Spencer has worked in nonprofit management for 30 years and led Memphis Habitat since 2001. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to build and sell 30+ affordable homes annually and provide critical repairs to 250+ senior homeowners each year. Today, Memphis Habitat ranks 25th out of more than 900 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the U.S. in new home production and has contributed more than $366 million in cumulative local impact since 1983.Connect with Memphis Habitat!Like and subscribe to Building Connection or leave us a review!Ideas for future guests or topics? Email [email protected]. ⁠⁠Subscribe to Memphis Habitat news.⁠⁠Follow Memphis Habitat on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.Podcast Credits:Guest: ⁠Zachary Amos⁠, Associate Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, Habitat for Humanity of Greater MemphisHost: ⁠Dwayne Spencer,⁠ MPA, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater MemphisExecutive Producer: ⁠Jessica Hord⁠, VP of Brand Strategy, Habitat for Humanity of Greater MemphisProduction Partner: ⁠⁠Forever Ready Productions⁠⁠Building Connection is a podcast from ⁠Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis⁠ hosted by Memphis Habitat President & CEO Dwayne Spencer. This podcast seeks to highlight the connections between housing and issues that we all care about -- health, wealth, safety, and more. Healthy communities, intergenerational wealth, peace of mind, and the ability to focus on what matters most -- it all starts with a home.