I write this petition from a place of cruel experience. I, like too many others, was a victim of domestic violence. This traumatic period forced my two children - only toddlers then - and I into a life of homelessness. We lived in shelters, in our car, anywhere we could find shelter. This painful chapter of our lives stretched on for about 5 years, all because we couldn't afford a home. I had to struggle on my own with very scarce resources.

It is this bitter ordeal that fuels my plea to you today. It is high time we pushed for more affordable housing options for people with low income. Everybody deserves a roof over their heads, a place they can call home without worrying about if they can afford it next.

In the US, more than 500,000 people experience homelessness on any given night, while a staggering 43 million people live below the poverty line (Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness and US Census Bureau). This juxtaposition is a clear testimony to the urgent need for affordable housing.

To address this need, we must urge our policy makers for a nationwide realignment of housing policies - promoting broader access to affordable housing. As a society, we owe it to our fellow citizens and ourselves to make everyone's right to housing a reality.

Let's send a resounding message that we are serious about ending homelessness, and that starts with housing affordability. Stand with me and the countless others who face or have faced this painful reality. Sign this petition to call for more affordable housing options for low-income families.