B4: Advancing Your Organization’s Mission Through Advocacy
Presented by Ben MikschAffordable Housing Policy and Advocacy
SpecialistThursday, May 22, 2014
4
Washington Housing Trust Fund
Low Income Housing Tax Credit
HUD Self-Help Housing Program
City of Grandview grant to widen the road, add a curb, gutter, and sidewalks
SSV Irrigation District – irrigation line piped around the property
Regulations on required number of parking spacesCity zoning rules multifamily homes
Regulations on size of units
Public policy choices directly impact your organization
Public policy choices directly impact your organization
Widening Gap Between Income and Rent
Source: “America’s Rental Housing,” a report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
YWCA Seattle | King | Snohimish Key Strategies for Change
• Ground advocacy in mission• Tie it to the budget• Recruit Champions• Install Guard Rails• Embed it in the rhythm of the business
• Ground advocacy in mission• Tie it to the budget• Recruit Champions• Install Guard Rails• Embed it in the rhythm of the business
Public Policy Choices Matter
• Shape Our Community• Express Our Values• Contribute to the problems we’re trying to
solve• Can help with solutions
• Shape Our Community• Express Our Values• Contribute to the problems we’re trying to
solve• Can help with solutions
3. Recruit Your Champions
• Already on your board and in your organization – they just need a venue!
• Create a Board Public Policy or Advocacy sub-committee
• Provide opportunities to develop public speaking and advocacy skills
• Sign people up for advocacy alerts/create a email distribution list for advocacy opportunities
• Already on your board and in your organization – they just need a venue!
• Create a Board Public Policy or Advocacy sub-committee
• Provide opportunities to develop public speaking and advocacy skills
• Sign people up for advocacy alerts/create a email distribution list for advocacy opportunities
4. Install Guard Rails
• Help people understand legal limits– No supporting or opposing candidates– Advocacy around issues and legislation is okay– May need to file 501(h) election with the IRS
• Help people understand legal limits– No supporting or opposing candidates– Advocacy around issues and legislation is okay– May need to file 501(h) election with the IRS
4. Install Guard Rails Continued
• Self-Imposed rules can help as well– Framework + guiding principles for what kind of
policies the organization will work on– Establish annual priorities
• Self-Imposed rules can help as well– Framework + guiding principles for what kind of
policies the organization will work on– Establish annual priorities
5. Embed it in the Business
• Rolling Board Calendar– Embed annual priorities and policy work into the
calendar
• Board Member Job Description• Non-Financial Commitment Form• Advocacy updates at every Board Meeting• Add it to the Strategic Plan
• Rolling Board Calendar– Embed annual priorities and policy work into the
calendar
• Board Member Job Description• Non-Financial Commitment Form• Advocacy updates at every Board Meeting• Add it to the Strategic Plan
Vision of the Board Advocacy Project
• Bring new voices to the advocacy movement by turning board members into lifelong advocates for affordable housing and homelessness
• Expand the advocacy capacity in communities by helping organizations build advocacy into the foundation of their board work and their structure
• To harness the untapped power of board members and the organizations they represent to help build the movement we need to ensure that everyone in Washington has access to a safe, healthy, affordable home in a thriving community.
• Bring new voices to the advocacy movement by turning board members into lifelong advocates for affordable housing and homelessness
• Expand the advocacy capacity in communities by helping organizations build advocacy into the foundation of their board work and their structure
• To harness the untapped power of board members and the organizations they represent to help build the movement we need to ensure that everyone in Washington has access to a safe, healthy, affordable home in a thriving community.
Your Voice Belongs the Public Policy Process
• Legislators need to hear from you
• Advocacy is legal• Lobbying is legal – with some
easy guidelines• Campaigning is illegal
• Legislators need to hear from you
• Advocacy is legal• Lobbying is legal – with some
easy guidelines• Campaigning is illegal
Advocacy Doesn’t Need to Take a Lot of Time
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2685/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13719
Advocacy Works
• 27 years ago we didn’t have a housing trust fund.• 12 years ago we didn’t have document recording fees.• 11 years ago landlords could legally discriminate
against survivors of domestic violence when choosing tenants.
• This year we revived a document recording fee bill from the dead and protected significant funding from sunsetting
What will we accomplish next year?
• 27 years ago we didn’t have a housing trust fund.• 12 years ago we didn’t have document recording fees.• 11 years ago landlords could legally discriminate
against survivors of domestic violence when choosing tenants.
• This year we revived a document recording fee bill from the dead and protected significant funding from sunsetting
What will we accomplish next year?
Thank you!
For more information:
Ben Miksch, Aff. Housing Policy and Advocacy [email protected] x 204www.wliha.org/board-advocacy-project
For more information:
Ben Miksch, Aff. Housing Policy and Advocacy [email protected] x 204www.wliha.org/board-advocacy-project