MCAH’s 8th Annual  Homelessness Advocacy Day is where we come together to:

• Share information on the state of Homelessness and Affordable Housing in Michigan and your local community
• Hear from state leaders on legislative priorities and the importance of advocacy
• Learn about MCAH 2024 policy priorities
• Advocate in teams, providing information and meeting with MI legislators
• Network with Colleagues

 

More of the Why?

This is an opportunity to provide information to legislators on what is going on with homelessness and the housing market at the state and local levels.

Homelessness advocacy day is an excellent time to highlight policy priorities such as the need for more affordable housing and tenant protections, and advocate for specific legislation that would be beneficial for the populations we serve.

 

This Year Really Counts More Than Ever

This year, it is especially important to bring exceptional advocacy for housing legislation to bear- more than twenty-five pieces of housing-related legislation have been introduced but not had a committee hearing or passed by both chambers thus far.  We are now in the second year of a 2-year legislative session, and if these bills do not make it over the finish line by the end of the year, we will have to start all over again next year!

To add even more urgency to the matter, the House is at an even 54-54 tie, with two members vacating their seats after winning local mayoral elections. The special election for these seats is in April, with not much legislative business expected to occur until after that.  This puts further pressure on the abbreviated time frame for legislative business to happen yet this year (being an election year, most action likely will occur April- August). The need for urgent advocacy by all our partners, colleagues and members cannot be understated!

We would like specifically invite those with lived experience to attend, along with people who work in direct homelessness response,  and housing/services.  Make sure you share this with others in your CoC and local community partners.