Voices advocating for the most vulnerable among us rang out recently in Washington, D.C. Those voices included Ryan Hertz and Jenny Poma, CEO and COO of Lighthouse. Their mission? To champion affordable housing and ensure the needs of underserved communities in Michigan are heard and addressed.

At the forefront of their recent journey to our nation’s capital were two events organized by NeighborWorks America, a network of nearly 250 community development organizations across the country. The first event was the National NeighborWorks Association (NNA) Legislative Day, where representatives from NeighborWorks America charter organizations, including Lighthouse, convened to advocate for expanding funding for the network.

“Lighthouse is a proud chartered member of NeighborWorks America,” Ryan said in a social media post from Washington, D.C. “A big thank you to Lou Tisler at National NeighborWorks Association for expertly convening and preparing our membership to collectively advocate for the important work we all do to respond to our housing crisis in Michigan and beyond.”

During the Legislative Day, attendees engaged with House and Senate members, pressing for a $185 million appropriation to support NeighborWorks America’s initiatives. The day culminated in a Capitol Hill Reception, where influential figures such as Vice Chairwoman Susan Collins, Senator Jack Reed, and Ranking Member Rosa DeLaura reiterated their commitment to affordable housing.

Ryan and Jenny also participated in an executive symposium organized by NeighborWorks. This provided an invaluable platform for networking with national housing partners and enhancing professional development at the executive level.

“On our 45th anniversary, we’re reflective about the impact we’ve made,” said Marietta Rodriguez, president & CEO of NeighborWorks America, while presenting a state of the union for the network. Doing work in this field “is a personal choice,” she said. “All of you in this room do the work and make that personal choice.”

What did the trip mean for Lighthouse and our ongoing work in metro Detroit?

“This conference highlighted the importance of the NeighborWorks network, helped craft new and stronger relationships and facilitated crucial conversations around affordable housing models nationally,” Jenny explained. “We now know how to effectively leverage NeighborWorks America’s incredible funding to create the biggest impact on Lighthouse’s ability to address affordable housing issues and homeownership opportunities in the Detroit area.”

Now back in Pontiac, the entire Lighthouse team remains committed to our mission of building equitable communities that alleviate poverty and creating a brighter, more inclusive future. Through advocacy, collaboration, and unwavering dedication, we will continue to be champions for equity in the fight against homelessness and food insecurity in our community. To learn more and support our work, visit lighthousemi.org.