Advocate: Speak Up and Inform Others
Who do you want to educate about your housing issues? Examples: families and neighbors, other interest groups, housing professionals and providers, agency personnel, legislators and other decision makers.
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Some examples include: mailings, telephone or door-to-door canvassing, small neighborhood meetings, joining the agenda at council meetings, and one-on-one discussions with legislators and other decision makers.
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Some examples include: call to say materials are coming by mail, follow-up to confirm receipt, follow-up to answer questions, make appointments to talk in person. Some people, especially legislators, will grant very limited time, so presentations must be brief and well-prepared.
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Mail, speak, and advocate your group's positions and goals.
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Training is giving information and effective ways to present that information. Training is also keeping group members interested and involved in the advocacy goals. You can keep group members interested and involved with regular newsletters and fact sheets, with meetings that welcome input from group members, and by sharing responsibility for important activities.
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Build a list of people who will be your audience, for example neighbors in your community, agency personnel, council members, legislators and other decision makers. Keep the list in a card file or worksheet or on the computer. Keep in touch with your audience and keep them interested with newsletters, fact sheets, advisories, and follow-up calls.
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Meet them in person. Be prepared with housing facts, stories, of persons served (or not served), and with carefully-designed charts and other printed materials. Your presentation should be adapted to the time your listener has planned for you. Legislators' time is particularly limited. Present your case directly and truthfully, and remember to listen, too.
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Call to your audience to say thanks, send them updated fact sheets and newsletters, and keep speaking up.
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