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Advocacy

Common Ground believes in a holistic approach to ending homelessness. That's why our board and staff are engaged in public policy and education work. Our Advocacy Committee is focused on educating public officials about the importance of affordable housing to the state’s communities and economy, as well as the critical role Common Ground plays in creating and preserving housing. Examples of our advocacy work include:

 

Board Advocacy Project

In 2010, Common Ground founded the Board Advocacy Project, an ongoing campaign to engage nonprofit board members in the process of advocacy. We continue to be partners in this exciting project. Watch the short video below for more details.

Board Advocacy Project Website

 

New Housing Models Initiative

Through this innovative project, funded by a generous grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Common Ground will analyze the factors contributing to the cost of creating and preserving affordable housing, and identify ways to do it more cost-efficiently. We believe we can stretch scarce public funds farther. Public education and outreach will be key components.

 

2012 Public Policy Agenda

Common Ground will be working closely with partner organizations at the regional, state and national levels to help ensure housing needs are met in this time of fiscal distress. We also aim to work in partnership with elected officials, understanding the difficult tradeoffs they face. Key partner organizations include:

State

Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

Regional

Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County
Tacoma/Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium
Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County
Spokane Low Income Housing Coalition

National

National Low Income Housing Coalition
NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials)

Check the Common Ground website periodically for public policy updates and links to critical advocacy activities.

Why We Advocate
(and Why You Should Too!)

 

**New Video!** Hear from these funders and civic leaders about why Board Advocacy is key to ending homelessness.

 

Find out more about the powerful potential of Board Advocacy. This video is also available on a DVD that we can mail to you. Order one here.

 

Homestead Community Land Trust board member Geov Parrish shares his two most important reasons why he advocates.

 

Watch Nancy Amadei, from the Civic Engagement Project, talk about how helpful legislative staff can be to your advocacy efforts.