The Voices of Policy

AHFTC at the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “2026 Housing Forum”

Affordable Housing For the Carolinas (AHFTC) recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the “Housing Policy Forum,” the national conference hosted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The event brought together tenant leaders, tribal leaders, housing advocates, and policymakers from across the country to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation today, the affordable housing crisis.

The conference featured a keynote address from former South Carolina House of Representative, attorney, and CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers, who spoke about why stable housing remains foundational to economic opportunity, public health, and thriving communities.

A powerful moment during the conference was the recognition of Shirley Sherrod, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work advancing equity for farmers and rural communities. As a civil rights leader, Sherrod has dedicated her life to ensuring that underserved communities, particularly Black farmers in the South, have access to land, resources, and opportunity. Her legacy reminds us that housing, land, and equity are deeply connected.

The conference also honored Kennetha Patterson, known as “The Homeless CEO,” as a recipient of the 2026 Loraine Brown Resident Leader Award. This award recognizes individuals living in subsidized housing who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to supporting tenants and people experiencing homelessness. Patterson, a systems change advocate and leader with lived experience, has used her voice to challenge inequities and uplift others navigating housing instability.

Her leadership reflects the same resilience and lived experiences we see in many of the families AHFTC serves across North and South Carolina, individuals who, when given the opportunity, become powerful advocates for change within their own communities.

Another impactful session was led by Dushaw Hockett, Interim Director of the Perception Institute. Hockett challenged attendees to examine how implicit bias continues to shape housing outcomes in America. He emphasized that while division can push communities further apart, collaboration is essential if we are to move the pendulum toward a future where wages and housing costs better align.

Preparing Advocates for Capitol Hill

Affordable Housing For the Carolinas Executive Director Mary Hunter also served as a presenter during the conference’s Pre Forum training, where advocates prepared for their upcoming Capitol Hill visits.

Hunter joined fellow tenant leaders Krystal Thompson and Kimrah Minuty to lead a session focused on the power of storytelling in advocacy. Their presentation equipped attendees with practical tools to help them share their personal experiences with policymakers.

Hunter opened the session by explaining how storytelling has shaped pivotal moments in American history, referencing leaders such as Sojourner Truth, Chief Standing Bear, Ryan White, and Dolores Huerta. These examples reinforced that stories have the power to influence policy and create lasting change.

The SOAR Storytelling Model

Krystal Thompson introduced attendees to the SOAR storytelling model, a framework designed to help advocates clearly communicate their lived experiences.

SOAR stands for:

Situation to explain the background or issue

Obstacle to describe the barriers and impact

Action to share steps taken or policy needed

Result to highlight the outcome or desired change

This structure helps transform personal experiences into compelling narratives that policymakers can understand.

Kimrah Minuty concluded the session by addressing the emotional realities of storytelling. She equipped attendees with guidance on recognizing key word triggers and emotional cues that may arise when sharing personal experiences related to housing instability. She emphasized the importance of preparing for these moments and encouraged participants to share their stories when they feel ready, supported, and empowered.

Community Voices That SOAR

Together, Mary Hunter, Krystal Thompson, and Kimrah Minuty emphasized the message “Community Voices Soar.” When individuals share their lived experiences, it helps policymakers understand the real faces behind housing instability in America.

Stories bring visibility to the experiences of working families, seniors aging in place, veterans, people with disabilities, and communities navigating rising housing costs.

Participating in The Forum allowed Affordable Housing For the Carolinas to bring the voices of families from North and South Carolina into the national housing conversation. The challenges discussed in Washington mirror what we see every day in our communities.

Through our Ounce of Prevention home inspection and repair program and our Beyond the Bricks community initiatives, Affordable Housing For the Carolinas remains committed to elevating the voices of the Carolinas while working alongside partners across the country to advance housing solutions.

We invite you to join this growing movement and share your story through Community Voices:https://www.ahftc.org/community-voices

Together, our voices can help build a future where safe, stable, and affordable housing is within reach for everyone.