In the 1800s, settlers would circle the wagons to protect themselves from outside attackers. Only by working together as a team could they protect their assets from outside forces.

Today, the home building industry faces one of the most hostile housing economies in 30 years or more.  Despite this downturn, local municipal officials blithely continue to look at raiding our coffers in order to balance their budget shortfalls.  Instead of bows and arrows, our elected officials are sending costly new service charges, impact fees, regulations, building codes, etc., our way  But we can’t afford to just circle the wagons, we have to fight back against these rising costs. And only by fighting back together, as one strong home builder association, can we expect to prevail.

As a member of a Home Builders Association, you are getting top value for aggressive and effective government advocacy at the national, state, local, and regional levels. The National Association of Home Builders is a powerful force in Washington, D.C. while the Home Builders Association of Illinois speaks out strongly on your behalf in Springfield. Back here in Northeastern Illinois, the Attainable Housing Alliance is your full-time advocate in City Hall and the County Courthouse, fighting back against local government pillaging of the home building industry.

In recent months, AHA has saved area home builders millions of dollars in additional fees and building code requirements by working with local officials and advocating on behalf of the industry.  AHA has rolled back impact fee proposals, stopped residential sprinkler requirements, fought tax increases and negotiated favorable code requirements. While some home builder members are circling the wagons to weather the current economic storm, AHA is proudly leading the charge on the forefront to champion your issues. 

May is Home Builder Membership Month as local associations across the country make a strong push for new members to join HBA.  

As you recruit prospective new members, ask them to imagine what the industry would be like if they didn’t have someone fighting for their interests in City Hall and the County Courthouse? Ask them to imagine what would happen if someone wasn’t watching out over local government officials?

That is why three local home builder associations in Northeastern Illinois came together to form the Attainable Housing Alliance several years ago, to provide a strong, unified advocacy program that could address key issues impacting the industry, regardless of whether it was a little building code issue or a major fee increase.

Simply put, they decided that "if we don’t engage in lobbying on these issues, what is the likely policy outcome? Nothing good!" The prospect of all the potential negative impact that could happen without an aggressive and effective lobbying program on behalf of the industry made a compelling argument for a regional advocacy program.

So when you are out selling the importance of joining the Home Builders Association to your fellow home builders and associates, don’t forget to remind both current and prospective HBA members of the unique value they have in AHA. For a small advocacy investment of only $50 per home closing in AHA, the Northeastern Illinois home building industry has saved at least $30 million, or more, in reduced fees and regulations since the beginning of 2008. Given the state of the housing economy, that is a substantial return on a very small investment.