REASONS & RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE FOR HOMELESS SENIORS
Advocacy is all about empowerment and speaking up for yourself. It is something everyone can do and it is something that all of us should do if we believe in a good cause and in a democratic form of government.
Here are ten reasons why you should advocate for senior homelessness:
You Can Make A Difference: It only take one person to initiate change. One person – a single woman, man, child or friend – can make a difference.
People Working Together Can Make A Difference: Collective responses can convince many people to take your issue seriously. The result is more education on issues, information sharing, networking, resource acquisition and exposure.
“The People” Can Change Policy: American history is chock full of stories pertaining to ordinary people and groups who have fought extraordinary odds to make great changes. These changes weren’t easy to achieve. It took active involvement – the advocacy – of people who felt something needed to be changed.
Advocacy Helps Find Real Solutions: Service provided directly to people in need, such as senior services, are essential. However, sometimes that is not enough. Aging advocates, in particular, are thinking creatively and asking their elected officials for support to generate innovative solutions that overcome the root causes of problems.
Policymakers Need Your Expertise: Few institutions are closer to the “real problems” of people than community-based nonprofits. We see problems first-hand. We know the needs. We understand what works and what does not. Therefore, we have the ability to put a “human face” on problems and make them real to policymakers.
The Views Of Local Nonprofits Are Important: Increasingly, local governments decide how to spend federal money, giving local nonprofits even more opportunity to have immediate, concrete impact on people in need.
Advocacy Is Easy: There is no mysterious rite of passage to engage in advocacy. It does not take years to master either. You could learn how to advocate – whom to call, what to say – in minutes. Continue to follow our blog to learn straightforward rules your organization needs to follow, as well as strategies to make you effective!
Advocacy Helps People: Everything that goes into an advocacy – the research, the strategic planning, the phone calls and visits – will help your mission, not detract from it. Advocacy can enhance your direct service; it can be your best service.
Advocacy Advances Your Cause And Builds Public Trust: By increasing your visibility and strengthening relationships with elected officials, advocacy can help you build public trust and support, which is essential to achieving your organization’s mission.
Advocacy Is A Democratic Tradition: The act of informing, educating and engaging elected officials on policy issues is at the very heart of our democratic system. Various advocacy efforts have long helped to make America’s democratic system robust. So, advocate for the things you believe; state your position, raise your voice and be heard!
Aging Advocacy Resources
AARP
Address: 601 E. Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049
Website: http://www.aarp.org/
Email: member@aarp.org
Phone: 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277)
Justice in Aging
Address: 3660 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 718, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Website: http://www.justiceinaging.org/
Email: info@justiceinaging.org
Phone: 213-639-0930
National Council on Aging (NCOA)
Address:251 18th Street South, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22202
Website: https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/
Email: info@ncoa.org
Phone: 571-527-3900
American Society on Aging (ASA)
Address: 575 Market St., Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94105-2869
Website: http://asaging.org/
Email: info@asaging.org
Phone: 415-974-9600 or 800-537-9728
Fax: 415-974-0300
Nonprofit Advocacy Resources
California Association of Nonprofits
Address: 400 Montgomery St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104
Website: http://www.calnonprofits.org/
Email: info@calnonprofits.org/
Phone: 800-776-4226
Fax: 866-731-1672
National Council of Nonprofits
Address: 1001 G Street, NW, Suite 700E, Washington, DC, 20001
Website: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/
Email: info@councilofnonprofits.org
Phone: 202-962-0322
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