What You Can Do To … Shape Public Policy

Vote for candidates who will advance programs to address the needs of homeless and other low-income people. This is the single most important thing you can do to shape public policy. So make sure you're registered to vote at your current address and get an absentee ballot if you need one.

Let candidates know what issues you care about. Participate in campaign events and ask questions.

Support the campaigns of candidates who share your views. Consider distributing their literature, raising funds for their campaigns and/or volunteering in their campaign offices.

Let public policymakers know what you want them to do—and not do. Join our Advocacy Network and respond to our action alerts. Meet with your elected representatives to talk about the issues. Bring friends or other partners along.

Participate in town hall meetings and in other forums where policymakers will be present. Speak out about your concerns and ask how they will be addressed.

Organize a letter-writing campaign. Encourage friends and others you know to all write letters to decision-makers on a key issue or set of related issues.

Testify at a public hearing. This isn't as challenging as it may sound. Contact us if you'd like to talk about the process.

For guidelines, directories and other resources you can use, please visit our advocacy resources page.