Everyday Advocacy

Addressing homelessness in our communities requires a lot of advocacy from all kinds of community members. This is how we make lasting change.
So during this legislative session when advocacy matters perhaps more than at any other time, here is some encouragement on how we can all be
better advocates for people experiencing homelessness.

1. Get Educated: when we see someone in our personal lives or out in the community, it can be easy to generalize based on that experience. I try not to do that, although, admittedly, that single experience can be powerful. To balance that perspective, I spend a lot of time reading about homelessness – its causes, how we can address it, best practices, and how homelessness fits into a broader policy context. One of my favorite books on the subject is Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Transforming Systems, and Changing Lives (Illustrated Edition) by Deborah Padgett M.P.H, Benjamin Henwood Ph.D., Sam Tsemberis Ph.D.
2. Get Involved: there is no substitute for getting involved in your local community and understanding how your local town or city council is tackling difficult issues. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a city council in Waterville that is supportive of the work we and others do in addressing the individual and systemic issues relating to poverty, addiction, housing instability, and homelessness. We can always use another advocate at the table or in the room.
3. Find a way to serve: community service is the lifeblood of getting things done in America and it is one of the most fulfilling methods of advocacy. And there are so many ways for each of us to use our time, talents, and treasure for advocacy! Many people engage in direct service by serving a meal, swinging a hammer, or mentoring a young person. Others prefer indirect service, like hosting a fundraiser. Some even join a nonprofit board of directors (hint, hint) because they have experience running a business or nonprofit and enjoy governance. Find a way to serve that suits you.

During the legislative session, another great way to serve is by communicating with your elected officials. They value the views of their constituents more than any other. Now is the time to put those letter-writing and public-speaking skills to the test! Check out what’s happening at two committees: the Joint Committee on Housing and the Judiciary Committee and sign up for the email list to get all the latest information.

Finally, it’s important to create space for people to engage in self-advocacy. Standing in your truth is a powerful experience, both for the individual and for our communities. The more we listen to people with lived experience and encourage them to speak for themselves, the better off we’ll all be because we won’t waste time developing plans that don’t work.