Many communities have reduced the number of people who are homeless by using efficient, solution-focused interventions. To continue making progress, especially in the midst of the current economic climate, adequate federal investments in affordable housing and homelessness assistance are critical.

Advocacy is the best strategy to cultivate the political support needed to get the resources we need to prevent and end homelessness.

Current Advocacy Alert: The Alliance has launched a McKinney-Vento Appropriations Campaign to urge Congress to provide $2.4 billion for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants in FY 2012. While the McKinney-Vento program received a small increase in FY 2011, it is insufficient to fully implement the HEARTH Act and address the lingering effects of the recession. A one-time big increase in funding is needed to implement the HEARTH Act and get us back on track. Find out more about the campaign and learn what you can do.

What YOU Can Do:

• Fax letters to your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Use this sample letter to ask them to increase funding for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants.Follow up by calling or emailing staff working on homelessness issues in their offices. Congressional office phone numbers can be found by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
• Work with the media to raise awareness of the issue and the importance of specific federal programs.

For step-by-step suggestions on taking these steps, check out our Advocacy Tools by clicking on the links to the left.