Educate Yourself and Collaborate for Ideas and Support
Read about the current housing crisis in Ohio Legal Rights Service's report, Housing: Crisis and Opportunity, A Traumatic Brain Injury and Disability Perspective. There are many other reports about housing written from different points of view. Some of these titles, and where you can find them, are listed in Housing Resources section.
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To get the latest information, contact local agencies, departments and providers. You can also research housing on the computer on the Internet. Most libraries have Internet access. The Internet is a good source of information about housing. Some agencies, departments and providers and online sources are listed in Housing Resources section.
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The information can be grouped according to the difference housing issues you would like to address. These groups of information will become fact sheets and advisories for your group members, coalition partners and advocates, and for your audience.
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This is a statement of the housing issues you want to address and the goals you want to accomplish. This statement can help you see whether the facts support your positions and your goals are realistic.
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Think about people or groups which would make good advocacy partners for you or your advocacy group — partners to work together with or collaborate for ideas and support. Examples may be other disability groups and low income housing advocates. Advocacy Partners can share the same advocacy goals as you. Partners can work together on these goals by sharing information and ideas, as well as skills, resources and access to people.
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Not all people or groups will make good Advocacy partners. Find out if a potential partner fits your group's needs. Learn about potential partners' memberships, organizations, successes and failures. Most importantly, identify their goals and objectives and decide whether they are compatible with your own.
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A meeting is a good time to learn which information, ideas, skills and resources partners have in common or can share. You may also identify conflicts or ways in which the two groups are not compatible.
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It is important that Advocacy Partners are "on the same track." Work out rules and responsibilities among the partners, for example: what advocacy goals and advocacy position will partners speak about, who will partners speak to, and when and where, and how.
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