Last updated February 26, 2020
We hope to see you at the State House in Boston for our annual Legislative Action Day tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Great Hall. * Our agenda for the day is here (PDF).*
The event will be hosted by State Representative Jim O’Day. Our keynote speaker will be Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (and the Coalition’s former Housing Policy Coordinator!) At Legislative Action Day, participants will hear from families, youth, and adults with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability, as well as researchers, advocates, and legislators. The day will focus on advocating for key2019-2020 bill priorities (PDF) and FY’21 budget priorities (see Column C).
Legislative Action Day will begin with check-in and light breakfast starting at 9 a.m., with the speaking program from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. In the afternoon, participants will fan out across the State House to meet with legislators and their staff to share their support for deeper investments in housing, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, income support programs, and related resources. We can help you set up those meetings; just let us know by making note on the registration form.
Here are some basic tips (PDF) to help guide your meetings with legislators and staff. (We also are hosting a pre-event training call on Wednesday, February 19th, which will include additional tips and time for questions/answers.) After your meetings with legislative offices, please let us know how your meetings go by completing our legislative visit response form.
Registration is now open. Register today to participate and sign up here to be an event-day volunteer. Please also help us spread the word by inviting your colleagues, friends, and neighbors.
Read our Legislative Action Day media advisory here (PDF).
Fact sheets and links to our bill and budget priority campaigns:
- Our 2019-2020 bill priorities are outlined in this overview and in this bill priority chart
- Our FY’21 budget priorities are outlined in this overview and are included in Column C of this chart
- Upstream RAFT/Rent Arrearage Assistance Program bill fact sheet (PDF) and endorsers list (PDF)
- Emergency Assistance places not meant for human habitation bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Mass ID access bill fact sheet
- Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program bill fact sheet (EAEDC, PDF)
- Bill of Rights for people experiencing homelessness bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Act of Living bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Right to Counsel bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Lift Our Kids Out of Deep Poverty bill fact sheet (PDF)
- FY’21 budget request for housing and services for unaccompanied youth (PDF, updated 2-24-20)
- FY’21 budget request for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, PDF)
For additional fact sheets and more details, please check back soon here and on our Present Policy Campaigns page.
For more information, please contact Kelly.