Affordable Housing Month is the perfect time for organizations
and individuals to raise awareness about affordable housing and
homelessness. It is also an opportunity to build momentum
for future housing victories through organizing, advocacy and public
education activities.
- Organize a postcard campaign to advocate for legislation that
supports affordable housing
- Press outreach, such as Letters to the Editor and editorial
board meetings
- Film Screenings & Discussions
- Get Local Governments to do Affordable Housing Month Proclamations
- Community Forums and Congregational Outreach
- Legislative/Community Breakfasts
- Tour or open house of affordable housing sites and/or areas
of great housing need
Sign Our Petition Opposing
State Budget Cuts
Housing Action Illinois organizes Affordable Housing Month to
provide the opportunity for organizations and individuals to
raise public awareness about the importance of affordable, accessible
and fair housing.
One quick and easy way you can support these efforts is to sign
our petition asking our state elected officials to commit to
making ending homelessness a priority for Illinois by making
the following two changes to Governor Quinn's FY 2012 budget
proposal:
• Make no further cuts to homeless prevention in FY 2012
and work to restore previous cuts by FY 2013. In its prime, Illinois’ homeless
prevention program provided rental assistance and supportive
services to 14,000 households across the state, allowing families
to remain in their existing homes and avoid homelessness.
Unfortunately, homeless prevention funding was reduced from
$11 million to $2.4 million in FY 2010 and is slated for an additional
cut to $1 million in Governor Quinn's FY 2012 budget proposal.
Despite the infusion of time-limited homeless prevention resources
provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Illinois
should still prioritize the cost-effective practice of preventing
homelessness whenever possible. Stimulus funds will be exhausted
by the end of FY 2012 and the state must start figuring out ways
to build back up to $11 million.
• Restore funding of emergency and transitional housing
to $9.1 million as funded in FY 2011. This vital program provides
comprehensive shelter services to 42,000 adults and children
per year. Even at the program’s funding high, Illinoisans
are turned away nearly 37,000 times a year due to lack of shelter
space. Cutting the program in half, as proposed in Governor Quinn's
FY 2012 budget proposal, would force an additional 21,000 people
on to our streets.
Our goal is to get 1,000 petition and postcard signatures during
March 2011.
Click here to sign the petition.
We can also send you postcards to get actual signatures if you
would like. Contact gianna@housingactionil.org to request postcards.
Sample Materials
More materials, such as a sample press release,
fact sheets and other information to help you make most of Affordable
Housing Month, will be available on this web page soon.
General
Interest Form
Affordable
Housing Month Proclamation
Selected Planned Activities
1. Francis Parker High School, Chicago,
March 4th
Students will participate in a service and advocacy project
with Cornerstone Community Outreach and Housing Action Illinois.
2. METEC, Peoria, March
12th
2011 Homeowners Fair: A collaboration of lenders,
realtors, insurance companies, HUD approved housing counseling
agencies, and other mortgage industry leaders will be available
to assist prospective and current homeowners. The cost
is free, but pre-registration is required.
3. Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, Springfield,
March 15th
Press Conference and Lobby Day in Springfield to oppose Governor
Quinn’s proposed budget cuts to services for people with
disabilities including the elimination of the community reintegration
program.
4. Decatur County Homeless Council,
March 17th
Affordable Housing Breakfast to discuss challenges faced
by homeless families with children.
5. Will County Continuum of Care, March 28
Annual Open Leadership Meeting with legislative and funding
updates from Housing Action Illinois.
6. Housing Action Illinois
Postcard
and online petition campaign to oppose Governor Quinn’s
proposed cuts to the Emergency & Transitional Housing Program
and Homeless Prevention Program.
Advocacy training
for housing counseling agencies on March 24th.
7. United Congregations of Metro-East
Writing
an Op-Ed article on affordable housing for a local newspaper.
8. Mid Central Community Action Agency
Writing
a newsletter article about housing and transportation costs.
9. DuPage Housing Action Coalition
Press
outreach to illustrate the impact of the Homeless Prevention
Program and DHAC members will advocate for affordable housing
during a DuPage County Board meeting.
We Want To
Work With You
Housing Action Illinois wants to work with you to plan Affordable
Housing Month activities. As Affordable
Housing Month approaches, we will distribute a calendar of activities
to promote activities throughout the state.
To get more information, please contact Gianna Baker, Outreach
Coordinator, at 312-939-6074 x. 110 or gianna@housingactionil.org.