B4: Advancing Your Organization’s Mission Through Advocacy Presented by Ben Miksch Affordable Housing Policy and Advocacy Specialist Thursday, May 22, 2014

What is advocacy? 2

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 spaces City zoning rules multifamily homes Regulations on size of units

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

Executive Director Board of Directors Staff Residents and Clients Community

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

Step 1: Ground Advocacy In Your Mission

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

Housing Affordability Mental Illness; Chemical Addiction Legal Barriers to Housing Oppression; Discrimination; “Isms” Some Causes of Homelessness Homelessness

Housing Affordability - Minimum Square Foot zoning requirements Mental Illness; Chemical Addiction - Deinstitutionalization without adequate replacement Legal Barriers to Housing - WA Courts report eviction filings as “evictions,” regardless of outcome Oppression; Discrimination; “Isms” - Redlining Policies Contributing to those Causes Homelessness

Housing Affordability + Housing Trust Fund Mental Illness; Chemical Addiction + Medicaid Expansion; Supportive Housing Benefit Legal Barriers to Housing + Fair Tenant Screening Act Oppression; Discrimination; “Isms” + Homeless Bill of Rights Promising Policy Solutions Homelessness

What policies are impacting your organization?

2. Tie Advocacy to the Budget

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 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 distribution list for advocacy opportunities

Attend Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day February 17, 2015

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

6. Connect with advocacy organizations

The Housing Alliance – Your Partner in Advocacy

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.

Overcoming Challenges

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 common/public/?action_KEY=13719

You Don’t Need to be an Expert!

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 Specialist x For more information: Ben Miksch, Aff. Housing Policy and Advocacy Specialist x 204