Have you heard about the Census? Whether the answer is yes or no, the Census is more than just a form! It is both an opportunity for civic engagement and an important tool with significant impacts on our daily lives.

An affordable home impacts everything, from strengthening our families to contributing to our region's economic prosperity. Unfortunately, too many of our neighbors lack access to a stable place to live, often forgoing basic necessities like food and health care to make ends meet. The Twin Cities is facing an affordable housing crisis as housing costs continue to rise while wages stay flat. Across the region, 46% of renter households pay too much for housing. It is harder to afford a home now than at any other time in recent memory.

This week marks my one-year anniversary as President and CEO of Twin Cities Habitat. In that time, I’ve learned a lot. I have learned how hard our incredible staff work to serve families throughout the community – be it our Homeownership Advisors helping families become homeowners, our Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention specialists keeping families in their homes, our A Brush with Kindness staff doing needed repairs for longtime homeowners, or Age in Place staff pioneering new ways to help our seniors. Through our Multiplying the Impact Campaign, we have doubled the number of families who partner with us. This year, we will help more than 110 families become first-time homeowners.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity recently kicked off construction at our new development in St. Paul's North End neighborhood. Over the next two years, literally thousands of community members from corporate, faith, and Women Build groups will volunteer on the construction of these 11 homes. There were many partners involved in making this project possible, so it's exciting to see it come to fruition.

Have you heard about Twin Cities Habitat's Multiplying the Impact five-year fundraising campaign? It's all about folks like you in the Twin Cities coming together to more than double the Habitat homeownership opportunities—from about 50 to over 100 each year.

What will it take? All of us coming together, digging deep, and giving what we can. And there's so many ways you can get involved and make a difference. Attending a Habitat event is a great way to build stable, affordable homes for local families. (And, if I do say so myself, attending an event is perhaps the most fun way way to give back.)

Now that we've moved on to 2019, we wanted to look back on what made 2018 a truly unique and whirlwind year. So, buckle up—let's go for a ride through 2018!

Joe Khawaja will join Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity as Chief Financial Officer starting January 22.