U.S. Poverty Weekly Update May 21, 2019
Quote of the Week
“Connecticut is not the only state where you have to wonder how people survive on the minimum wage. In fact, there is nowhere in the United States where a person earning the federal minimum wage can afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment.”
– RESULTS Coastal Connecticut volunteer Bill Baker in an May 16 letter to the editor in the Stamford Advocate
Got Two Minutes? Register for the Conference – Early Bird Extended to Tomorrow!
If you didn’t make the Early Bird registration for the RESULTS International Conference last week, you’re in luck. We’ve extended the deadline through tomorrow, May 22. That means you have one more chance to register for RESULTS’ biggest event of the year and save money at the same time. Make sure you are there with your fellow advocates at this year’s RESULTS International Conference.
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to register for the RESULTS International Conference. Take advantage of the extended Early Bird registration rate before it expires tomorrow. And remember, current, active RESULTS volunteers can apply for Gap Funding to receive help with travel expenses – apply today.
Got Ten Minutes? Join the Housing Week of Action, May 30-June 5 (May Action)
Next Thursday, May 30, begins the Our Homes, Our Voices Week of Action. This is an opportunity for advocates around the country to raise awareness of America’s housing crisis and push our elected officials to do something about it. When low-income workers cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S., something must be done. When 70 percent of extremely low-income families spend half or more of their income on housing, something must be done.
The Week of Action is a great opportunity for you educate your community and lawmakers about these issues. It is also a great way to connect with like-minded groups in your community, which is the focus of the May Action. Look at the more than 30 events already planned to see if there’s one in your area (and check back as more will be added each day). If there is, reach out to the contact person to see how you can join in.
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to raise awareness of the housing crisis by being a part of the Our Homes, Our Voices Week of Action. The OHOV website has resources to help you, including background PPTs, a congressional toolkit, social media images, posters, and post cards. The May Action has additional resources to help with connecting with housing allies in your community. If you need help, please contact Jos Linn for assistance.
Got Twenty Minutes? Host Your Own Housing Week of Action Event (May Action)
If you cannot find an event to attend during the Our Homes, Our Voices Week of Action, why not host one yourself? You don’t have to create an elaborate event to participate in the Week of Action. Here are some ideas:
- Invite new people to attend the June 4 National Webinar with Hahrie Han. Ms. Han is a nationally-recognized political scientist who will speak to us about the importance of organizing for action in our local communities. We will also highlight our housing work as part of the webinar.
- Do a local advocacy training with a focus on housing (use CBPP’s newly-updated state housing fact sheets)
- Organize a call-in day to members of Congress during the Week of Action
- Schedule a lobby meeting (the first two days of the Week of Action (May 30-31) are during the Memorial Day recess
- Urge your local Action Network to submit letters to the editor on housing during the Week of Action
Be creative. Do what you can to raise awareness of America’s housing crisis.*
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to plan how you will participate in the ”Our Homes, Our Voices” Week of Action, May 30-June 5 Host your own event and be sure to register it on the OHOV events page. The Week of Action website has promotional materials, housing educational resources, and how-to’s to help you. Also, remember that hosting an event is a great way to build coalition allies in your community, per the May Action. To discuss ideas for an event or for resource materials, please contact Jos Linn for help.
*For any event, Our Homes, Our Voices only asks that it be open, includes information about federal housing policy, and you use the Housing Week of Action brand in some way.
Quick News
Complete May-August Planning. Please do your May-August group planning this month using our updated online Group Summary Form to set your goals. Please submit your form by May 31.
Get Meetings during Recess Next Week. Congress will be on recess all next week. If you have not met with your members of Congress recently, contact them this week about setting up a meeting. Also ask about any public events (town halls, parades, etc) they may be doing you can attend.
Oppose HUD Rule taking Housing from Immigrant Families. HUD has proposed a new rule that would prohibit “mixed immigration status” households from participating in housing assistance programs. This change would force 55,000 children from their homes. Stand for keeping families together by submitting your comment opposing the rule today.
Join Webinar Tomorrow on New Definition of Poverty. The Trump Administration has announced a change to the way poverty is calculated, which would reduce or eliminate benefits for low-income families. Learn about the rule and how to oppose on the CHN/CBPP webinar tomorrow, May 22 at 2:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar here.
Nominate a Journalist for the Cameron Duncan Award. RESULTS is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Cameron Duncan Media Award. This award is given each year to a journalist or editor for outstanding work on issues related to poverty. Read more about the award and how to nominate a journalist. Nominations are due by Friday, June 7.
Last Ten Days of the Spring Friends and Family Campaign. The RESULTS Spring 2019 Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign is raising funds to continue our work to end poverty. It’s not too late to join the campaign today!
Upcoming Events
May 1-May 31: RESULTS Spring Fundraising Campaign. Sign up to participate today.
Tuesday, May 21, 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 May 22 (8:30pm ET), RESULTS New Advocate Orientation. Get started at: https://results.salsalabs.org/volunteer/index.html.
Monday, May 27, Memorial Day holiday. All RESULTS offices closed.
Monday, May 27-Friday, May 31: Congressional Recess. Submit your meeting requests today.
Tuesday, June 4: RESULTS National Webinar with Hahrie Han, 8:00 pm ET. 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.
Saturday, July 13-Tuesday, July 16, 2019: RESULTS International Conference. Register today at www.resultsconference.org!
Find other events on the RESULTS Events Calendar.
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.