Advocacy

There is no better strategy for impacting federal policy than advocacy. Join the Alliance's national advocacy efforts.

Members of Congress are much more likely to focus on ending homelessness if they understand how it affects people and programs in their district. The more they hear from constituents about how programs are preventing and ending homelessness in their district, the more likely they are to act. It's up to us to convince our Members of Congress to take action!

The cornerstone of successful advocacy is building relationships with policymakers, such as by calling, writing, and meeting with them, or inviting them to visit a local homelessness program.

The pages in this section describe ongoing efforts to improve federal policy affecting people experiencing homelessness and how you can get involved. Our Advocacy Tools, Advocacy Calendar, and Advocacy Updates provide concrete steps for getting involved.

Spotlight

Video  |  August 26, 2010
In this video, Laura Webb, Community Engagement Manager at Walden Sierra in Maryland, discusses how to most effectively utilize storytelling in advocacy efforts. She describes how to tell compelling stories, including where to find stories, how to edit them to fit an organization’s needs, and how to incorporate policy issues into storytelling.
Advocacy Resource  |  August 12, 2010
This report includes an overview of Capitol Hill Day 2010, a review of some of the key offices with which advocates met, and a summary of the impact that participants’ meetings have already had on federal policy.

Library Resources

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Advocacy Resource  |  May 15, 2010
Advocates are gearing up for Capitol Hill Day, July 12-14, 2010. Advocates from across the country will meet with Members of Congress to urge them to make ending homelessness a federal priority. This contains all of the information you need to participate!
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Congressional Briefing  |  March 24, 2010
On March 23, 2010, the Alliance and the Corporation for Supportive Housing co-hosted a Congressional Briefing entitled, "Policy Solutions to Chronic Homelessness." This resource includes information on the speakers and materials from the briefing.
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Advocacy Resource  |  January 20, 2010
The Alliance is kicking off an advocacy campaign to increase funding for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants in FY 2011.
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Congressional Briefing  |  December 5, 2009
On December 4, 2009, the Alliance hosted a Congressional Briefing. Staff representing nearly 30 Congressional offices heard speakers provide information about the success that they have had in using solution-focused strategies, like prevention and rapid re-housing, to reduce homelessness among families. Speakers asked Congress to support their efforts by acting on specific federal policy priorities.
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Advocacy Resource  |  August 24, 2009
Capitol Hill Day provides people who attend the Alliance’s Annual Conference with an opportunity to take part in federal advocacy by meeting with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. This Summary and Report includes a list of the 2009 Capitol Hill Day Federal Policy Priorities, a report of the Hill Day activities, and a summary of the impact advocates had on each of the policy priorities before and during the conference.