©National Consumer Law Center 2013

Making Policy Change: Skills for Effective State & Local Advocacy

October 2017

I’m Home Conference

Odette Williamson, National Consumer Law Center

National Consumer Law Center

• Advocates on behalf of low-income consumers

• Provides training, legal analysis, case consultation and advocacy on consumer law issues

• Other training opportunities

– Webinars

– Annual conferences

– In-person trainings

How NCLC Can Help You

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• Review policy options or strategy

• Draft or customize policy options or

legislation

• Assist with comparisons to other states

• On-the-spot consultations

• Legislative testimony

• State policy snapshots– http://cfed.org/assets/pdfs/Detroit_Metro_Opportunity_Policy_Snapshot.pdf

Sample state policy snapshot -Michigan

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Michigan policy snapshot, cont’d

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Tools For Advocates: Local Advocacy Guide

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Tools for Advocates: Resident Ownership

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Other Policy Guides & Resources

• Titling Homes as Real

Property

• First Steps Toward

Resident Purchase

Opportunities

• Protecting

Fundamental

Freedoms in

Communities

AARP Shifting the Balance of Power

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NCLC’s Website

The nonprofit National Consumer Law Center® (NCLC®) helps

build family wealth for low-income and other disadvantaged people in

the U.S. by offering advocacy expertise through publications, policy

analysis, research, litigation services, and training. www.nclc.org

Making Policy Change:

Skills for Effective State

and Local Advocacy

Tim Sheahan, President

National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA)

Effecting Local Policy Change

“All Politics is Local”, or is it now Global?

Local government makes many land use decisions

Today’s Council member might be tomorrow’s State legislator or

member of Congress (especially with term limits)

Supportive City Council is critical for maximum protection under

city ordinances

Council members are generally accessible/approachable

League of Cities and Counties expand policies

Social media and the World Wide Web are expanding “global

politics”

Effecting Local Policy Change

Skill set #1

-Identifying and documenting the issue

-Determining if governed by local codes

Evaluate legal, political and legislative climate

Conditional Use Permits/Permits to Operate

“Home Rule”, Comprehensive Plan, Housing Element

Health and Safety code enforcement

Rent Stabilization Ordinances, other protections

Conversion ordinances and zoning

Moratoriums to temporarily block an action

Property tax/incentives to sell to residents

Finance Authority, municipal bonds

Effecting Local Policy Change

Skill set #2

-Describing the problem/telling your story

Finding compelling stories of vulnerability and hardship

Loss of homes

Injury, sickness

Scope of the problem

Comparing to well operated communities

Contacting the media

Publicly addressing your City Council

Effecting Local Policy Change

-Distinguishing the target audience(s)

-Tailoring the story for given audience (e.g., city

officials)

keeping dollars local

protecting those on fixed income or low income

preserving affordable housing

Unsubsidized—less burden on taxpayer

Cheaper than apartments

Environmentally responsible

Stable, safe retirement MH communities

Telling Your Story and Being Visible

Using the Media

Public Rallies

Victory #1--Petitions qualify ballot referendum!

Victory #2--Success at the ballot box!

Effecting Local Policy Change

Skill set #3

-Identifying and Influencing key officials

Elected officials are the boss of staff

Inexperienced elected officials rely heavily on staff

Educating candidates/candidate primers and forums

Working on campaigns of supporters

PAC endorsements, contributions

Serve on local commissions “inside City Hall”

Praise/criticize officials in the media when warranted

Effecting Local Policy Change

Skill set #4

-Building political clout/educating the general public/ expanding your sphere of influence Organizing your constituency

Civic involvement and exposure

Solidarity through networking with those who support you and influence others

Mobilizing the masses through MH coalitions

Visibility—City Hall, street rallies, letters to the editor, social media

Educating the ignorant and prejudiced

Dispelling negative stigmas and stereotypes

Effecting Local Policy Change

The Situation

+

+

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Expanding Your Sphere

Challenges we face

Diluted voting clout/no new MH parks while population rises

Wealthy park owners and trade groups

Real estate speculators/developers

Fear/apathy of homeowners

Trend from “Mom and Pop” to corporate conglomerate operators

“Trailer Park” stigmas and stereotypes

Expanding Your Sphere

Our Strengths Power at the ballot box if we vote as a bloc to support those who

support us (PACs)

Government motivation to preserve affordable housing

Seniors often have time to volunteer

Opportunities to gain knowledge and political sophistication (through

GSMOL and other groups)

Opportunities to expand our sphere of influence and voting power by

networking/partnering with others

Expanding Your Sphere

Identifying Partners

Outreach and Exposure

Indentify common interests and concerns

Civic engagement

Political and community involvement

Voter registration drives

Voter education—A two-way street

Candidate forums/endorsements

Networking-Partnering with Civic Groups and Advocacy Organizations

•You don’t have to share everything in common!

Your sphere of influence can be made up of diverse groupswith openminds

Expanding Your Sphere

Examples of Possible Allies

Affordable housing advocates

Senior advocates

Apartment/resident groups

Anti-development land preservation groups

Environmental groups

MH dealers/manufacturers/lenders

Local businesses/Chamber of Commerce

Government watchdog groups

City Attorneys/City Councils

Police, Fire and other Union PACs

Effecting Local Policy Change

“Rallying the troops”

Inspiring the masses/strength in numbers

“Squeaky wheel that gets no grease gets hotter and louder”

Don’t be a “home-moaner”/don’t complain about everything

Attorney support to evaluate opportunities

Voter initiatives if necessary

Timing and luck

Expanding Your Sphere

Nurturing Partnerships

Communication (internal and external)

Express appreciation when warranted

Mutual support (like any good partnership)

Positive reinforcement/building rapport

Effecting Local Policy Change

Skill set #4

-Identifying the Opposition

Evaluating their strengths and weaknesses

“Following the Money”/PAC reports--contributions

Do you have responses to their arguments?

Following the politics

Effecting Local Policy Change

The Opposition

MHET (Manufactured Housing Educational Trust)

Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association

(WMA)

California Mobilehome Parkowners Alliance (CMPA)

Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI)

Californian Association of Realtors (CAR)

Building Industry Association (BIA)

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA)

Effecting Local Policy Change

The Opposition

Following the Money

Opponent Tactics

Response to Opponent Tactics

Documenting Poor Representation

Pushback/accountability/consequences

Effecting Local Policy Change

Conclusion

While “money talks,” enough people voting and working together

can sway elections and influence public policy

I’M HOME Conference - October 2017

• Montana political climate

• Personal property rights

• OTP not feasible

• Park-owner benefit

70-33-103

kpeterson@nwmt.org