UVA CAMPUS CHAPTER

The University of Virginia’s campus chapter was founded in 2010, a group of students who are passionate about helping people build better lives for themselves, and are ready to take the next step to lead the charge at their school to help fulfill Habitat’s mission. Taylor Thompson was elected co-President in 2018 and President in 2019.

Act! Speak! Build! Week Educates UVA Students About Affordable Housing | NBC29 | 4.12.2019

What Drives Us | University of Virginia Giving

Student Spotlight: He Raised $85K For House Honoring His Mom, And Found a Lifelong Mission | UVA Today | 4.6.2018

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & ADVOCACY

Habitat for Humanity defines advocacy as changing policies and systems to eliminate barriers to adequate, affordable housing in order to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

In other words, while not visible like homes themselves, laws, regulations and rules about land and building are a major part of housing. Smart policies and systems can promote access to decent housing, while other policies and systems may create unnecessary barriers. These barriers may make it harder than it needs to be to find land for construction, build the home itself or be able to afford a place to live.

Habitat on the Hill is Habitat’s annual legislative conference, during which advocates for decent housing, including Habitat staff members, board members, homeowners, volunteers and youth from across the country, gather in Washington, D.C., to discuss Habitat’s legislative priorities, attend advocacy and policy-related workshops, and hold face-to-face meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. 

Taylor had the privilege of sharing his story at Habitat on the Hill in 2018, as well as participating in his role as UVA Campus Chapter president in 2019. This summer he is serving as a Government Relations and Advocacy Intern in the DC office of Habitat for Humanity.

Internship Builds on Years of Service with Habitat for Humanity | Beth Garrett Memorial Internship Grant | Women’s Center at the UVA | 6.20.2019

Taylor Thompson, Devotional at Closing Plenary Session | Habitat on the Hill | Washington, DC | 2.15.2018