Advocacy 101 How Advocacy Can Help End Homelessness

Advocacy 101: How Advocacy Can Help End Homelessness Presenters: Eric Hufnagel, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Jason Weller, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

Advocacy versus Lobbying? Advocacy: Identifying, embracing, and promoting a cause (such as fighting against homelessness) Lobbying: Influencing legislation (such as contacting your legislator and asking them to either vote for/against a piece of legislation)

A Little Planning Goes a Long Way Here a few things to consider before getting started on your advocacy campaign: • What do we want? • Who is our audience? • What is our message? • How do we know if it’s working?

What’s the Point? Advocacy can be a useful tool in many ways, some reasons to engage in advocacy are: • Further your mission • Educate policymakers on important issues • Government will impact the funding and regulation of your organization • Build a relationship with the people that influence your community

Ways to Engage with Policy Makers: ▸ Petitions ▸ Emails ▸ Phone calls ▸ Face to face meetings ▸ Legislative Committee Hearings

Relationship Building with Policy Makers • Invite them to tour your program • Become a source of information • Respond in a timely manner to any requests for information/constituent assistance • Email regularly-especially to thank them • Add them to newsletter or email lists

Don’t Forget About Working with the Media! Tools in the Media Engagement Toolbox: • Media advisory • Press release • Letter to the Editor • Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed) • Social media campaigns

Understanding the Legislative Process And now for a word from our sponsors

Legislative Update: State Level

The Governor's recommended budget for FY 18 includes a rare opportunity for increased state funding for homelessness services. • A $3. 7 million increase for Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Shelter Program. The shelter reimbursement rate, which hasn't seen an increase since 2003, would go from $12 a day to $16 a day. • The Department of Education increase of $150 million for students who are identified as 'at-risk. ' The definition for the students who would be eligible for these programs and services would be expanded to include students experiencing homelessness.

Legislative Update: Federal Level

Repeal and Replace the Affordable Healthcare Act

Federal Budget for FY 17 Currently under Continuing Resolution

Congress has until Friday, April 28, to pass funding bills for Fiscal Year 2017. At risk are important budget items for affordable housing and community development. The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Low Income Housing Coalition are asking US to call our congress members today! Take a few minutes to tell your legislator about why we need to pass funding legislation that protects the homeless and prevents a government shutdown. National Alliance to End Homelessness Call-In Information National Low Income Housing Coalition Call-In Information

Federal Budget for FY 18

Source: www. affordablehousingonline. org

What Can We Do? • Make a case to our Congressional delegation about why HUD should not receive cuts. • Draw media attention to the local/state impact of proposed HUD cuts and value of HUD programs. How? • Op-Ed for state-wide distribution. • Letters to the Editor for local papers. • Secure resolutions opposing the budget from locally elected officials. • Organize in-district visits in conjunction with MCAH. • Facilitate roundtables with multiple stakeholders for Congressional staff. • Press Conferences

Want to Get Involved?

MCAH’s Five Policy Priorities for 2017 -18 AFFORDABLE HOUSING Individuals experiencing homelessness face unique obstacles accessing good, affordable housing. Communities may lack the number of necessary units, landlords can refuse to rent to these individuals and families, or the cost may be prohibitive. This can leave some with few housing options other than shelters or the street. STATE IDENTIFICATION Having a state-issued photo ID can open a lot of doors for services when homeless. Unfortunately, many of these individuals do not have an ID or the documentation necessary to receive one. In a recent study conducted by MCAH, 92 agencies across the state reported assisting an average of 552 clients a month who were seeking an ID. Though there are programs and resources to aid in this process, they are not statewide or funded fully to meet the needs of this many clients. DECRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS Being homeless can make you a target. Individuals who are homeless are often victims of physical violence, subject to city ordinances that make it illegal to ask for money or sleep in public, and face additional scrutiny from the police and criminal justice system. Often, this vulnerable population doesn’t have the necessary protection to stay safe while seeking new housing opportunities. FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SERVICES Federal and state monies go a long way towards helping agencies who serve the homeless. But this funding often falls short of providing the beds, extensive services, medical care and more that are required to truly meet needs. Protecting existing funding resources and providing new funding is necessary to make the long-term and permanent solutions needed to end homelessness. MEDICAID/MEDICARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Individuals experiencing homelessness disproportionately suffer from mental illness and physical disability. All too often, jail or the emergency room are the best option for receiving medical care. Michigan expanded its Medicaid program in 2013, and between then and 2015 we saw a 51% increase in enrollment just among those who reported being homeless. Federal attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act or cut funding for health services would cause unnecessary hardships for these individuals, and many more.

What to do more? Join MCAH’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) MCAH's new Legislative Action Committee has been created as a vehicle for volunteers to help shape policy on issues of homelessness in Michigan. Together, we identify and work towards policy that better represents the needs of the homeless population throughout our state. We discuss and strategize with viewpoints from the field, urban and city communities and the state capitol. We train and educate ourselves and decision makers about the impact of policy on individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We engage and advocate with policy makers to enact change and improve the lives of our clients, friends, family, and fellow Michiganians. You Are Invited! LAC meetings take place via conference call from 12: 00 - 1: 00 p. m. on the 4 th Monday of every month. To join the LAC mailing list and be informed of upcoming meetings, activities, and action alerts, contact lburchfield@mihomeless. org.

Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness ▸ www. mihomeless. org ▸ Advocacy Toolkithttp: //mihomeless. org/index. php/component/jdownloa ds/viewdownload/92 -mcah-advocacy/749 -mcahadvocacy-toolkit-2 -22? Itemid=

National Organizations ▸ www. endhomelessness. org ▸ http: //nationalhomeless. org/ ▸ http: //nlihc. org/

Questions? Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness 15851 S. Old US-27 Building 30, Suite 315 Lansing, MI 48906 (517) 485 -6536 www. mihomeless. org