Effective advocacy usually involves person-to-person communication. Many Rooms is trying to help by making important information and tools available. You will need to be persistent in your advocacy. Sometimes the wheels that make these projects happen turn slowly.

Think about the relationships your community already has and start talking about housing advocacy. Your friends, family, and neighbours are as concerned about this as you are. Think about policy-makers and politicians who you already know that you might be able to contact for advice, help, or direct action on housing projects.

Create an advocacy team within your community. Projects die when there are too many people directing them and no clear responsibility. Create a small team that takes responsibility and can delegate tasks as needed.

Use stories. Within your congregation there are surely some stories of people who have needed or greatly benefited from affordable housing. Include those and make your advocacy personal. Storytelling is huge – if people are emotionally moved by a real story, they will likely want to support your cause. The closer to home the story is, the more effective it is.

Be proactive in producing materials and articles for local news outlets, like interviews and letters to the editor. Make sure to use positive language and stay focused on positive outcomes. There is so much to celebrate with new housing – there’s no need to mention anything negative about any parties, even if they are unreasonably opposed to what you are promoting. Positivity has a much stronger and longer-lasting effect.

Direct communication is far more effective than a petition. Politicians will often see a petition, acknowledge it, and then move on. They can be effective at times, primarily for very specific and less controversial functions, like adding a speed bump to a road.

Letters and emails that ask politicians and agencies for specific actions on specific projects are easier for them to respond to. A general request for more housing doesn’t give them much to work with in their meetings. A letter that reminds them that the housing project at 123 Any Street is waiting for a delayed permit or a release of funding gives them an action they can take right away.

You can always look up provincial and federal ministers responsible for housing and let them know which projects are important to your community. It’s also useful to speak to your local elected representatives. They’re responsible to you, after all.

civicengagement.ca allows you to enter a Canadian address and find names and contact details for municipal, provincial, and federal politicians.