Monarch Housing’s Blog!

A how-to guide for aspiring communications pros, concerned advocates, and anyone with a story to tell

Press coverage can help you get your message out to millions in one broad stroke, educate the general public about your goals of ending homelessness, and direct information to influential policymakers, community leaders, and funders who have the power to move your goals ahead.

Being part of the non-mainstream media, we certainly understand the need for good publicity. This new guide from the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) is one that we highly recommend you download and read. Click here for the media guide.

Engaging the media is an invaluable tool when advocating for change. That’s why the National Alliance to End Homelessness has provided recommendations to nonprofits and advocacy groups on specific steps they can take to increase coverage of homelessness and poverty issues. Even with little to no funding available for communications efforts, these valuable tools can be utilized to encourage print, broadcast, and online media to cover the issues that are important to you. Press Read the rest of this entry »

Wednesday, July 15, 2009!

The 3rd Annual Congressional Reception has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

Please save the date!

As we have over the last two years the event will be held in the afternoon. The exact time and location will be determined later. The Congressional Reception will be on the last day of the NAEH conference.

More than two hundred formerly homeless people, passionate advocates and housing providers from across the state attended the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception on July 30, 2008. In addition, the event was attended by Senator Lautenberg Senator Menendez who hosted the event, and Congress members Holt, Pascrell and Ferguson also attended.

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September 21-27, 2008 is National Homeless & Low Income Voter Registration Week!

Another important election year is approaching and we hope you will join us in ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition are honored to invite your organization to participate in National Homeless and Low Income Voter Registration Week on September 21-27, 2008 by hosting a voter registration drive or promoting voter education and participation.

Information on National Homeless and Low-Income Voter Registration Week

Since equal access to the right to vote is a crucial part of maintaining a true democracy, nonprofits and service agencies nationwide will dedicate the week towards registering homeless and low-income individuals to vote. For those unable to conduct voter registration drives, the week can also be used to educate community members on the upcoming general election.

As another organization dedicated to homeless empowerment and economic justice, we hope you will join us in this effort. With your support, we are confident we can reach more individuals not yet registered to vote.

Resources to assist in an voter education campaign.

Election 2008 Resources
A list of resources to help you get involved in nonpartisan electoral activities.

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We’re a Step Closer to Improving Homeless Assistance for Families and Individuals!

This was a key issue at the Congressional Reception!

On July 31, 2008, in the final hours before August recess, the House Financial Services Committee unanimously voted in favor of HR 840 - the HEARTH Act, legislation introduced by the late Julia Carson (D-IN) and Geoff Davis (R-KY) to reauthorize HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program. Click here for a detailed summary of this legislation.

The bill passed with a manager’s amendment offered by Rep Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA). The amendment makes the bill similar to S 1518 - the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act. An amendment was offered by Rep Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Rep Geoff Davis (R-KY) to dramatically expand the definition of homelessness, but it was withdrawn after debate.

Several amendments were approved unanimously, including an amendment by Rep Bill Read the rest of this entry »

The National Alliance to End Homelessness kicked off their 2008 National Conference on Ending Homelessness July 28, 2008. With representatives from all over the country gathering to learn new and innovative strategies for ending homelessness in their communities, the first day of the conference began with a bang. Pre-conference sessions were held from 9-12 and were filled well past capacity as participants eagerly shared ideas and experiences.

The conference officially opened at 1 pm with a opening address made by Nan Roman, Executive Director of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The room overflowed with participants as Nan Roman discussed the need for strong federal leadership in ending homeleness and expansion of efforts to various sub-populations such as homeless veterans, families and youth. Those attending the opening plenary were provided copies fo the National Alliance the End Homelessness short video on Rapid Re-housing for homeless families and participants walked away energized and ready to learn about how to end homelessness in their communities.

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NAEH releases policy papers on funding!

Key issue for the July 30th Congressional Reception!

With less than two weeks to go until the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has released several important policy papers on federal funding for housing and supportive services. The New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness’ mission is to advocate on a federal level for adequate funding for permanent affordable and supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. The Advocacy Network’s next event the Second Annual Congressional Reception will be held on July 30, 2008. Click here for a Save the Date form.

These are the materials on the federal funding that are important to read prior to the Congressional Reception.

2008 Capitol Hill Day Federal Policy Agenda (PDF | 23 KB | 2 pages)

Facts on Affordable Housing (PDF | 58 KB | 1 page)

Federal Spending in Homelessness and Housing (PDF | 54 KB | 2 pages)

FY 2009 Services Appropriations (PDF | 46 KB | 2 pages)

HHS Appropriations: Multi-Year Strategy (PDF | 34 KB | 1 page)

HUD Appropriations: Multi-Year Strategy (PDF | 34 KB | 1 page)

More detailed updates will be provided prior to the July 30th event.

The following important information is from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Reauthorization is one of the policy issues that will be part of the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception. For more information on the Congressional Reception and the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness click here.

The markup of HR 840, the HEARTH Act, is scheduled for this week in the House Financial Services Committee. (The exact date is unclear.)

Rep Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, plans to offer a manager’s amendment which would make considerable changes to the HEARTH Act and make it more similar, although not exactly like S 1518, the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act. Click here for the Alliance’s revised summary of the legislation with the manager’s amendment.

The Alliance is in strong support of the legislation with the manager’s amendment. This legislation with the manager’s amendment represents a hard fought compromise and many conversations among national organizations and Congressional staff. We are asking Members of Congress to oppose any amendment to further expand the definition beyond the compromise included in the manager’s amendment.

Please contact your Congressional staff - in NJ this is Congressman Garrett - in support of the manager’s amendment as is without amendment. And let us know if they have questions or comments and generally what they say.

General Talking Points on the Legislation with Manager’s Amendment

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