Forging Connections at Grantmakers in Health 2024 Conference

June 25, 2024

As part of our work to strengthen relationships with community-based and national health funders, Susan Newton, senior director of strategic initiatives at Lutheran Services in America, attended the Grantmakers in Health 2024 Conference in Portland, Oregon. She joined timely and relevant discussions aimed at improving public health and equitable healthcare outcomes across the nation.

It was an opportunity to highlight innovative efforts happening across our member network ranging from successful initiatives in fostering whole-person care to robust community engagement approaches and leadership in developing and advancing housing solutions. As an example, as part of a rural health discussion, the work of our Rural Aging Action Network was highlighted, focusing on how members are leveraging social determinants of health assessments to uncover previously undetected needs.

Ensuring the work of our members is included in key conversations as the future of funding is considered a top priority for our organization. We hope to continue to take advantage of these opportunities on an on-going basis. For more information, contact Susan Newton at Snewton@lutheranservices.org.

Housing Solutions Summit Brings Together over 60 Leaders

May 29, 2024

Earlier this month at our Health and Housing Solutions Summit, Lutheran Services in America united 60 leaders, including members from our Housing Solutions Collaborative, with industry experts, policymakers, church and thought leaders from across the country. Over two days, we deeply explored and exchanged ideas and opportunities around three framing questions:

  • What is the housing crisis we are seeing in our communities?
  • What is or can be unique about the Lutheran response, and
  • What shared solutions can we unite around to strengthen our response on a local and national level?

The two days included:

  • 41 Lutheran Services in America Housing Solutions Collaborative leaders from 20 organizations who together manage nearly $2 billion in assets, including strong portfolios in affordable housing.
  • 3 founding members of the Lutheran Services in America Housing Leadership Circle, supporting and committing to exploring innovative products, services and partnerships to advance our shared goals.
  • Interactive solutioning sessions designed to dive deeper into promising practices across the network and the broader Lutheran community led by our partner and housing thought leader, Jeff Lubell of Abt Global.
  • An A-list of federal, state and local policymakers and experts including Assistant HUD Secretary Julia Gordon to inform opportunities to shape future efforts.
  • Exploration of our shared strengths including a whole person and community centered approach and the opportunity for a focused alignment with a broader eco system of church partners, schools, financial institutions and other resources and expertise.
  • Advocacy training, messaging and Hill visits with 21 policy makers. These included meetings with committee staff for Chairs and Ranking Members (minority party leaders) for key committees.

What happens next? Through the Housing Solutions Collaborative we will advance tangible actions and opportunities. Initial areas of focus include:

  • Flexible funding streams. We will work with our partners to build pathways to new and flexible sources of funding in the coming year.
  • Scale and replication. Our Housing Solutions Collaborative will continue to be a place to provide peer-to-peer dialog and we will formalize effective ways to identify and scale promising practices.
  • Amplify our united faith-based voice. We will grow our collective capacity to lead and effect change as a trusted presence in communities.

It was a powerful two days of commitment, passion, possibility and capability!

United, we are taking action together as one of the largest faith-based provider networks; we have the reach, we have the expertise and we have the responsibility.

If you missed our Summit, but are interested in joining our work, please contact Susan Newton at snewton@lutheranservices.org.

Alesia Frerichs is the President & CEO of Lutheran Services in America.

Unlocking Opportunities: Join us at the Housing Solutions Summit

April 29, 2024

We’re excited to extend an invitation to all stakeholders interested in addressing housing challenges to join us on May 7 at the Housing Solutions Summit in Washington, D.C. This convening marks a crucial step forward in our collective efforts to tackle housing issues impacting children, youth and families across our communities.

At the summit, participants can expect an engaging dialogue that delves into the core reasons behind our commitment to addressing housing challenges. Through insightful discussions and collaborative sessions, we aim to not only highlight the pressing need for affordable housing but also to explore innovative solutions that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

One of the key highlights of the summit will be the release of the Abt Associates white paper, a comprehensive study that sheds light on the intricate dynamics of housing insecurity and offers actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners and advocates alike. This white paper serves as a cornerstone in our ongoing efforts to drive impactful change in the realm of housing and community development.

Furthermore, we’re thrilled to emphasize our partnership with the ELCA, a collaboration that underscores our shared commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Together, we’re leveraging our strengths to address the multifaceted challenges faced by children, youth and families, with a particular focus on ensuring access to safe, stable housing for all.

Join us as we march forward in our mission to create caring communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Together, let’s harness the power of partnership and innovation to advance health and opportunity for all.

Allie Broxton is Director of Health & Housing at Lutheran Services in America.

Taking Action to Advance Housing Solutions

April 30, 2024

To build on the work of our network to advance housing solutions in communities across the country, Lutheran Services in America is supporting the federal expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). Provisions in pending legislation represent what would be the largest single investment in affordable housing in decades.

Earlier this year, the House passed with strong bipartisan support the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (H.R. 7024), which includes key provisions to expand LIHTC. Action has moved to the Senate, and we are asking you to contact your senators and urge them to pass this legislation to better address our nation’s housing crisis by meeting critical, urgent needs that have been under-resourced.

If passed, this bipartisan legislation will expand and strengthen LIHTC by financing the construction or preservation of an estimated 200,000 additional affordable housing units nationwide, generating more than $34 billion in wages and business income, supporting over 304,000 jobs, and generating almost $12 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.

We hope you will join us in raising our collective voice on this urgent issue. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Dobson.

Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Lutheran Services in America.