Lisa Sawyer and Shelly Cohen are Real Change Vendors.
Lisa: Housing and Homeless Advocacy Day is the biggest lobbying activity of the year. There are plenty of ways to contact your legislators, but advocating in person is the best way to be an effective voice. Two reasons: One, when a lot of people show up to an advocacy day, it shows legislators that the issue is really important. Two, for legislators to hear your story. It’s valuable to them to have a face that goes with the issue, to understand the emotions that go with it. Not everybody gets a chance to tell their story in person, and not everyone speaks up. Just showing up means a lot.
I’ve been going to these events for five years now. When I first went I was nervous because I didn’t know a thing I was doing. The day is organized to help first-timers, and experienced people, too. We start gathering at the United Churches of Olympia at 8 a.m., and we get our folders, name tags, and red scarves. The scarves represent housing, and they make us stand out from the other advocates. They tell you things like what times you have your meetings with legislators and who your district lead is. I’m a district lead now. We coordinate with others and, if you don’t get a chance to share your story, you can write it out and share it with your legislator.
I’ve learned a lot at Advocacy Days, and I think I’m becoming a more effective lobbyist. I’m still learning.
Shelly: I’ve been to lots of Advocacy Days. They’re always exciting, interesting and motivating. You find out what’s really going on and how the system works. The issues we advocate for work toward equality, helping people help themselves. And, yes, some people object to the financial investment in working toward equality, but in the long term it saves money. And it saves lives.
Have your own Advocacy Day. On Feb. 28, leave a message with all three of your legislators by calling 1-800-562-6000, and get your friends to call too. As a constituent, you can always schedule appointments to meet your legislators. It may be an appointment with a legislative assistant. Don’t be upset by that — legislative assistants can be very influential.
Here are some of the issues we’re working on for Advocacy Day:
Two bills would give tenants more time to pay the rent before the expensive court eviction process can begin. Providing tenants with 14 or 21 days allows for another pay day or time to work with a rental assistance program. (HB 1453/Macri & SB 5600/Kuderer)
Two other bills would require that a landlord have a legitimate business reason in order to make someone move. Those include withdrawing the home from the rental market (as for a sale), substantial rehabilitation or conversion, moving in self or family, or for closure of the unit due to condemnation. (HB 1656/Macri & SB 5733/Saldaña)
Other bills would give tenants a 60-day notice of a rent increase (HB 1440/Robinson), authorize a local jurisdiction to keep a portion of sales taxes for affordable housing and homelessness needs (HB 1406/Robinson & SB 5646/Kuderer) and enact a progressive real estate excise tax to generate revenue for the Housing Trust Fund (SB 5582/Saldaña).
You can sign up to join us in Olympia through the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. They can help with accessibility issues and transportation.
Be informed! Take action! Make a difference! We’ll see you in Olympia.
Read the full Feb. 20 - 26 issue.
Real Change is a non-profit organization advocating for economic, social and racial justice. Since 1994 our award-winning weekly newspaper has provided an immediate employment opportunity for people who are homeless and low income. Learn more about Real Change.