U.S. Poverty Weekly Update June 18, 2019
Quote of the Week
“We must address the affordable housing crisis and end poverty, starting right here in our community. We all deserve a safe, warm home.”
–RESULTS Fargo, ND volunteer Julia Claus in a June 12 letter to the editor in InForum
Got Two Minutes? Offer Someone that Moment by Writing a Letter (June Action)
Harken back to the first time you wrote a letter to your member of Congress. What did you feel while writing it? Excited? Hopeful? Frustrated? Angry? Probably a little bit of everything. And that’s good. Regardless of what you felt, the fact is you felt something. When you feel, that means you care in some way and in that instance, the act of writing connected you to why you cared about what you were writing (people who don’t care at least a little bit don’t write letters).
If you think about it, your first letter probably didn’t convince you to change your life. But it did prompt you to do the next thing. Life is an endless series of small, meaningful moments that lead you to the next thing, and the next, and the next. Before you know it, your life is changed. You had that moment once. Why not offer it to someone else?
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to contact someone and ask them to write a letter (or letters) to their members of Congress about housing. We are in a housing crisis in America and every voice that speaks up brings us closer to resolving it. Even something as simple as writing a letter can be an important experience for someone. The June Action has information to get people started on a letter (and urge them to share in their letter why they care about this issue). And if you can write with them, all the better. The experience grows when you do it with others. If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn.
Got Ten Minutes? Schedule Your Lobby Prep Call
We are now four weeks from Advocacy Day at the RESULTS International Conference. That day, hundreds of advocates from around the world will march up Capitol Hill (and to the World Bank) to demand lawmakers take action to end poverty. It is an amazing experience each time you do it and RESULTS wants you to have as powerful an experience as you can. That’s why each year, we schedule lobby prep calls to prepare you for your Advocacy Day lobby meetings. The calls focus on getting your ready to speak about our issues personalized to your members of Congress. And if you are new to the Conference, they will put your mind at ease by helping you understand the process and what to expect in DC. RESULTS Advocacy Assistant Dorothy Monza has already started e-mailing attendees to set up lobby prep calls. Please follow her instructions ASAP to get signed up for your state’s call.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to sign up for your state’s RESULTS Conference lobby prep call. Look for an e-mail from Dorothy Monza with instructions on letting her know about your availability. If you have not received an e-mail, contact Dorothy at [email protected]. Also, we encourage local group members not be coming to the Conference to dial in as well. It will give you a good overview of our current requests and help you prepare for meetings back home this summer.
IMPORTANT! Please read our new policy briefs on the Conference Resources page before you come to DC, and ideally before your lobby prep call.
Got Twenty Minutes? Schedule Your DC Lobby Meetings
With only four weeks until Advocacy Day, please submit your requests for lobby meetings on Advocacy Day (July 16) now. The earlier you send them, the better chance you have of meeting with your member of Congress in person. Please don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your meeting; it creates unnecessary stress for you. Use our sample meeting letter on the Conference Resources page to send an e-mail requesting a meeting. Follow the instructions below and the next thing you know, you’ll have that meeting booked!
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to request lobby meetings for Advocacy Day at the Conference. Be sure to coordinate with others from your state via lobby prep as to which office(s) you are contacting. Here’s what to do:
- Download our sample lobby meeting request letter from the RESULTS website.
- Personalize the letter to your member of Congress, list the issues you’ll discuss in your meeting, and provide your contact info.
- Paste it into an e-mail and send it to the scheduler (find scheduler/aide names here).
- House staff e-mail formula: firstname.lastname at mail.house.gov
- Senate staff e-mail formula: firstname_lastname at senatorlastname.senate.gov
- Within 48 hours, follow up with the scheduler to see if your request was received and the status of it.
- Call the scheduler every 4-7 days until your meeting is scheduled. If your meeting is with the member of Congress in person, invite the housing and tax aides to be present (to contact them, use same process in #3 above).
- Enter each lobby meeting you schedule into this form: tinyurl.com/LobbyMeetings
- Confirm your meeting the day before it is scheduled to happen.
If you need help with scheduling lobby meetings, please contact Jos Linn. Also, if you are not coming to Washington, use these same steps to request a meeting with your members of Congress during the July 4 recess (July 1-5).
Quick News
June 30 Deadline: Gap Funding for Conference Flights. If you are a current, active RESULTS volunteer and need help with your flight to DC, please apply for gap funding THIS WEEK! The money is only available if we book before June 30. There is also still time to register for the Conference at www.resultsconference.org! Please note: we no longer have funds available to help with registration or hotel costs.
New to the Conference (or not)? Use our new Conference Checklist to help you prepare to have a great experience in DC.
Last Week to Comment on New Poverty Rule. The comment period to oppose the White House’s new rule attacking eligibility for anti-poverty programs closes this Friday, June 21. Submit your letter opposing the rule before Friday.
Join Anti-Oppression Training on July 9. Join RESULTS for a training on our Call-in/Call-out Guide on how to appropriately respond to oppressive behavior. The call is Tuesday, July 9 at 9:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/837139277 or dial either (929) 436-2866 US or (669) 900-6833 US, Meeting ID: 837 139 277#.
New Habitat Campaign Launched. Habitat for Humanity launched their new Cost of Home campaign focused on improving affordable housing last week. The campaign’s four main issue areas overlap with some of RESULTS own work, e.g. increasing the supply and preservation of affordable homes. Their website explores these issues, highlights local success stories, provides a state-based analysis, and includes actions you can take.
2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book is Out. The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which measures the well-being of children and families in each state. This year’s report found that 11 of the 16 child well-being indicators have improved since the report was first published. Look here for you state-level data books and fact sheets.
Submit Comment on HUD housing rule. The deadline to submit comments opposing the Trump Administration’s new HUD housing rule on “mixed status” immigrant families is July 9. Use the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ state-by-state immigration data to submit your comment today.
Last Week for Bob Dickerson Award Nominations. Bob Dickerson of Seattle was an inspiring RESULTS grassroots volunteer leader. We seek to honor his spirit by recognizing volunteers who are following in his footsteps. Nominate a fellow advocate for the Bob Dickerson Grassroots Leadership Award today before the deadline this Friday, June 21.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, June 18, U.S. Poverty Free Agents Calls, 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/324294681 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 324 294 681.
Wednesday, June 19 (8:30pm ET): RESULTS New Advocate Orientation. Get started at: https://results.salsalabs.org/volunteer/index.html.
Monday, July 1-Friday, July 5: Congressional recess. Request a meeting today.
Tuesday, July 2: RESULTS National Webinar, 8:00 pm ET. Guest speaker: Ellen Nissenbaum (CBPP). Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 873 308 801. Find recordings and slides from previous webinars on the National Webinars page.
Thursday, July 4: Independence Day. All RESULTS offices closed.
Tuesday, July 9: RESILTS Anti-Oppression Training, 9:00 pm ET. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/837139277 or dial either (929) 436-2866 US or (669) 900-6833 US, Meeting ID: 837 139 277#.
Saturday, July 13-Tuesday, July 16, 2019: RESULTS International Conference. Register today at www.resultsconference.org!
Saturday, August 10: RESULTS Joint U.S./Global Poverty National Webinar, 2:00 pm ET. Join at: https://www.fuzemeeting.com/fuze/f2988286/30204806 or dial (201) 479-4595, meeting ID 30204806.
Find other events on the RESULTS Events Calendar.
U.S. Poverty Staff time out of the office: Meredith Dodson, July 3-7. Jos Linn, July 5, 20-28.
Other Resources
Learn more about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty.
Do you have a new person in your RESULTS group or info to update? Use our Volunteer Information Form to add them.
Report lobby meetings in our Lobby Report Form and report any published media in our Grassroots Media Form.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail Steven McGee at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports (our new digital 2018 Annual Report is now available).
RESULTS Staff directory.