Advocacy: Unlocking Systems for Greater Impact
At Habitat for Humanity Australia, building homes is just one part of our mission. Equally important is advocacy—transforming the systems that shape access to housing. By influencing policy, amplifying community voices, and engaging in global coalitions, we unlock more doors, and more homes, for families across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
International Advocacy: Shaping Global Systems
At the international level, Habitat for Humanity Australia works with country partners and global institutions to shape development policy and practice. Our team participates in DFAT’s Development Partnership Plan (DPP) consultations, meeting with DFAT posts in-country and in Canberra to advocate for household-level climate resilience as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
As a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), we joined the Safer World for All campaign, calling on the Australian Government to increase Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to 1%. Working alongside like-minded organisations, we highlight the critical role of aid in promoting economic stability and global equity.
Globally, we proudly support Habitat for Humanity International’s Home Equals campaign, which recognises housing as a human right and a driver of health, education, and economic opportunity. In the campaign’s first year:
- 50 local and national policy successes were achieved across 46 Habitat organisations
- US$1.2 billion in public funding was allocated for adequate housing
- 2.8 million people gained improved access to safe, adequate housing
Local Advocacy in Action
On the ground, advocacy is community-led. We empower local groups to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and governance, so they can advocate for inclusive disaster risk reduction and resilience planning.
- In Jhapa Rural Municipality, Nepal, the Sugabathan Community Disaster Management Committee (CDMC) successfully secured NPR 1.2 million (AUD $14,050) from the local Disaster Risk Management Fund. This enabled the construction of a 400-meter bamboo piling along the Kankai River, protecting 64 households from flooding.
- In Sambhunath Municipality, Saptari, CDMC-led action plans installed hume pipes to divert monsoon rainwater from homes and roads. A pipe near a school now allows 260 students to safely access education during the rainy season—removing a daily barrier to learning.
Advocacy in Australia: Unlocking Housing Solutions
In Australia, we advocate for innovative, collaborative housing solutions that respond to the growing housing crisis. By building an evidence base for lease-and-repair models, we demonstrate how vacant or underutilised properties can be repurposed as affordable, secure homes for vulnerable Australians.
These initiatives showcase the power of partnerships between the private sector and community housing providers to rapidly deliver housing in a cost-effective, sustainable way. We continue to engage with government to unlock vacant land and properties, relax planning controls, and create more housing opportunities for those who need it most.
Together we can make systemic change
From local communities in Nepal, to global policy campaigns and innovative solutions in Australia, Habitat’s advocacy work amplifies voices, influences systems, and unlocks housing opportunities. Advocacy ensures that our mission goes beyond building homes – it transforms the structures and policies that shape access to safe, secure, and adequate housing for millions of people.
Join us in advocating for change. Whether through partnerships, community engagement, or supporting our policy initiatives, your involvement helps unlock more homes, more safety, and more hope.