1.7 Getting Involved: Effective Messaging for Advocacy Speaker: Amanda Benton It is critical that policymakers understand the importance of providing adequate resources for homeless assistance. However, it can be difficult to find a message that resonates with this key audience. This workshop will review the basics of getting involved in advocacy and developing a message. Presenters will also explore effective strategies for communicating with policymakers in the current fiscal climate.

1. Getting Involved:
Effective Messaging for
Advocacy
National Conference on Ending Family and Youth
Homelessness
February 9, 2012

2. Advocacy is…
Advocacy is “the active support
of an idea or cause; especially
the act of arguing for
something.”

3. Importance of Advocacy
• Advocacy = MORE resources to achieve your
mission
• Especially important with budget cuts
• January 2013 Sequestration – 9.1 % across-
the-board cut

4. Strategies
Everyday Communication
• Go straight to the source!
• Contact appropriate staff members
• Never send “snail mail” to Capitol Hill
Meetings
• DC or district
• May only last 10-15 minutes
• Keep it simple!

5. Strategies – Media and Site Visits
Media
• Send news stories to policymaker staff
• Be pro-active!
Site Visits
• See first-hand how a program works
• Tie what they’re seeing to policy priority

6. Identifying a Message
• Know your audience!!
– Party affiliation
– Voting background
– Personal history
– Committee assignments
• Program strengths
– Think outside the box!

7. Messaging in Current Environment
Policymakers need to prioritize programs.
Show me the numbers!
These programs work.
• Program characteristics
• Outcomes
• History of success

8. Messaging in Current Environment
• Don’t balance the budget on the back
of the most vulnerable
• Bipartisan history of support for
homeless assistance

9. More Information
Amanda Krusemark Benton
Director of Policy Outreach
National Alliance to End Homelessness
abenton@naeh.org