As of Tuesday, the legislative session is upon us, and we're ready! Homes for All's Communications Team has drafted the following letter to be sent to lawmakers as session begins.
The letter gives an opportunity to welcome new and returning lawmakers while providing information on who we are as a Homes for All coalition. This letter is a template that local advocates are encouraged to customize; as you can see, there is space for advocates to speak on a local project or need. Don't forget to include our endorsers map with your letter!
Our hope is for Homes for All to be the housing contact for lawmakers, and making these connections with a unified letter can solidify our coalition and remind legislators that where we live impacts everything.
Date
Senator/Representative _________________,
Welcome to the 2019 Minnesota Legislature! We are looking forward to partnering with you this year to prioritize homes for all Minnesotans.
My name is [your name], I live in [your city] and I am a part of the Homes for All coalition. In 2011, advocates across Minnesota came together to create Homes for All to advance shared policy initiatives at the state level that lead to housing stability for all Minnesotans. Today, the coalition has grown to more than 200 diverse endorsing organizations across the state representing nonprofits, service providers, affordable housing developers, faith groups, government agencies and more.
We know that where we live impacts every aspect of our lives. At every stage of life, where we live is the foundation for our health, education, safety, and economic well-being. Where we call home affects the groceries we buy, where we send our kids to school, and how we thrive in our community.
[SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS IN YOUR COMMUNITY]
Example: Right now in Brainerd there are (x) amount of people experiencing homelessness on any given night. Homelessness looks different in every area of the state, and we won’t stop advocating for more affordable and quality housing until everyone has a place to call home.
Homes for All recognizes that there isn’t one kind of housing that fits the needs of every Minnesotan. That’s why we work to maintain and increase statewide investments across Minnesota’s Housing Continuum — from preventing homelessness to producing affordable rental homes to and affordable homeownership.
We are looking forward to partnering with you this session to make housing a priority across our state. Children learn, workers earn, seniors thrive and communities prosper when we have a place to call home. We welcome the opportunity to be your housing resource moving forward. Please feel free to visit our website and contact the Homes for All team: www.homesforallmn.org
Thank you!
[your name]
