effective lawmaker engagement growing support for supportive housing in fy 2016 providing permanent...
TRANSCRIPT
Effective Lawmaker EngagementGrowing Support for Supportive Housing
in FY 2016
Providing permanent housing solutions to end homelessness and institutionalization
Supportive Housing Providers Association
Section One: Understanding Our
Message
Our Mission and Focus
• We’re committed to ending homelessness and unnecessary institutionalization for Illinoisans.
• We’re deeply concerned about the consequences of losing supportive housing and homeless services in Illinois – particularly at a time when the state is transitioning thousands of individuals from institutions to community settings, addressing multiple federal court decrees and closing several state institutions.
Our Challenge: Vastly Expanding Population
• Illinois is transitioning upwards of 20,000 people with disabilities from institutions to community-based settings, as required by federal court-ordered consent decrees.
• The state’s re-balancing initiative will reduce the number of people served in institutions and increase demand for service in community settings.
• These individuals may access the critical services they need,
if and only if adequate supportive housing exists.
• Homelessness continues to be an issue in Illinois.
• Housing costs continue to be out of reach for many.
Prepare to Tell Your Story, In Simple Terms
• Supportive housing supports and families and individuals with special needs such as mental illness, substance abuse disorders, or chronic, debilitating physical illness such as HIV/AIDS.
• Supportive housing improves quality of life for thousands of Illinoisans while ending reliance on expensive institutional care.
• Supportive Housing, Homeless Services and Mental Health Services save taxpayers’ money!
Section Two: Understanding Our
Priorities
Our Priorities for Supportive Housing• The state needs a revenue solution for the
remainder FY 2015 and FY 2016!
Without a revenue solution, Illinois will fall $1.5 billion short on revenues to support services in FTY 2015 and up to a $6.5 billion shortfall in FY 2016.
• Restore current supportive housing funding levels at $30.8 million!
Currently, 12,000 people are living in supportive housing in Illinois. To maintain services for these people, $31.4 million is needed.
• Expand supportive housing service funding by $3.6 million!
A small investment by the state of $3.6 million dollars in FY 2016 will pay for supportive services for an additional 788 homeless and/or mentally ill people to live in 734 units and leverages a total of $28 million in capital funding and resources already secured by these organizations – an 8 to 1 return on investment for the state.
Our Priorities for Supportive Housing
Full Funding for Supportive Housing! $34.4 Million
• State general revenue funds leverage federal funds. No state funding means no federal funds for Illinois!
• The Governor’s budget cuts supportive housing funding by $12.7 million. This means the state loses up to $38 million in federal funds!
• The Governor’s budget also proposes to cut $9 million in “special projects”, mental health supportive housing, affecting services for two class action lawsuits.
• These cuts affect services offered to 10,300 people, placing them at risk for institutionalization. These cuts also significantly reduce the state’s ability to provide services under Court ordered class action suit settlements.
Full funding for current and new supportive housing projects.
Our Priorities for Supportive Housing
Supportive housing is far less expensive than institutional settings
• State mental hospital: $127,810
• Prison: $38,268
• Nursing home: $62,050
• Supportive services*$4,000
* Fair market rent for a one bedroom apartment ranges from $5,000 - $11,000, depending on location. Rent subsidies are available through federal support programs.
Our Priorities for Supportive Housing
The Illinois Housing Development Authority’s 2013 Annual Report says:
“Supportive Housing Costs $37,000 Less Per Year, on Average.”
$34.4 million in the FY 2016 budget will fully fund current and new supportive housing projects, supporting 13,000 people.
Remember: “All Politics Are Local”
• To the degree that members of the General Assembly will be interested in our issue, they will be chiefly concerned with local implications.
• Organize your thoughts – and your message – as they relate to the local community.
• Prepare your message in local terms, while providing a statement of statewide need.
Section Three: Preparing for Outreach
Prepare Your Story!
• How many people does your organization serve? How many communities do you serve?
• What types of people do you serve? (Chronically homeless? Individuals with mental illness? Families? All?)
• How long have you been serving your community?
• Which other local organizations do you work closely with? (Churches? Local governments?)
• In the absence of your operation (and any applicable expansion), what would become of the individuals you serve? Where would they go? How would your community cope?
Section Four: Outreach
Know Your Audience
• Lawmakers deal with dozens of major policy issues, hundreds of competing interests, and literally thousands of bills.
• Any lawmaker you speak with likely will be short on time and simultaneously focused on myriad other matters.
• Be prepared to succinctly convey our basic message and budget priorities, while cultivating your relationship with your local lawmakers.
Find Your Legislator• Locate your Legislator’s office in your home
District.
• Make an appointment at his/her office or, better yet, invite your Legislator to your agency and offer a tour.
• Leave a copy of the SHPA advocacy summary with your Legislator. (Find the summary at www.shpa-il.org, on the “Advocacy” page.)
Find Your Legislator• If your advocacy brings you to the State Capitol,
Legislators will most likely be found in either the House or Senate Chambers, on the 3rd floor of the Capitol.
• Legislators also have offices in one of two locations:
- The Capitol Building
- The Stratton Office Building
• Look for your Legislator first in their Chamber. Give the Doorman your business card or send in a note on a piece of paper (be sure and indicate who you are and who you represent).
• If you can’t reach your Legislator, find his/her office and leave a copy of the SHPA advocacy summary found at www.shpa-il.org.
Organize & Position Your Team
• Consider who on your team will make the most effective messengers. CEO? Executive Director? Case manager? Consumer? Resident?
• If your team includes multiple individuals, organize your parts in advance. Who is making introductions? Who is taking the lead? Who is best positioned to discuss your operation and the value of your service in the local community?
• Limit your outreach team to a maximum of three individuals – do not overwhelm the lawmaker.
Your Meeting With Your Lawmaker:Introduce Yourself & Our Message
• Tell your story – BRIEFLY
• Introduce yourself and your organization, and explain briefly your place in the community: how long you’ve been active, the types and number of individuals you serve, any expansion project you have underway.
• Explain the statewide context: we’re working together, statewide, to preserve and protect supportive housing and homeless services.
• If the lawmaker wishes to manage the conversation, allow the lawmaker to manage the conversation.
• Do not attempt to dominate the conversation. However, whenever possible, track back to our basic message and priorities.
Share Our Briefing Material
• Share the one-page SHPA advocacy summary
• Tell the Legislator about the Video “Vote Yes for Supportive Housing” on the SHPA website at www.shpa-il.org.
Assess the Lawmaker’s Level of Knowledge and Interest
• Ask the lawmaker whether he or she will support continued, adequate funding for supportive housing and make note of his/her response.
• Thank the lawmaker for his/her time, and tell him/her that you look forward to following up over the course of the spring legislative session.
Section Five: Evaluate & Debrief
Evaluate Your Outreach• Was your outreach successful?
• Do your lawmakers more clearly understand the value of homeless services and supportive housing, the critical need for supportive housing and homeless services, and the urgency of providing adequate funds for homeless services and supportive housing?
• Did the lawmakers appear enthusiastic about continued engagement with the homeless services and supportive housing community?
• Are the lawmakers prepared to support our priority for full funding in the spring session?
Debrief SHPAPlease report, by email or phone the highlights of your outreach. Call or e-mail Aaron Eldridge or Mike Bach at SHPA.
Aaron’s contact info: 312-202-0254
Mike’s contact info: 217-528-9814
SHPA tracks outreach to lawmakers on an ongoing basis. We are constantly evaluating and re-evaluating our outreach strategy. Your input is critical.
Thank You!
It’s only through the continued focus and outreach of supportive housing providers and consumers that we will have our voices heard – and, ultimately, will receive the state funding necessary to provide critical supportive housing services.
Please help SHPA stay organized, focused and engaged.
Thank you for your support!