NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes: 2020 nonpartisan voter and candidate engagement project proceeds with its “Third Thursdays at Three” presentation series on crucial elements of effective election engagement for organizations and advocates committed to expanding affordable housing and ending homelessness. The March 19 session focused on effective candidate engagement, featuring guest speakers Eric Hufnagel, executive director at Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, and Joan Serviss, executive director of the Arizona Housing Coalition. The session explored key strategies and considerations for conducting candidate surveys and candidate forums, asking questions at town hall meetings, and inviting candidates to visits affordable housing projects or to meetings conducted by nonprofit organizations.
The webinar began with a consideration of the current call to action on federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and included an acknowledgement that public gatherings such as candidate forums and town hall meetings should not be scheduled until the CDC guidance on banning group gatherings is lifted. As the lowest-income people will be hardest hit by the pandemic, it remains even more important that low-income renters participate as informed voters in the upcoming November elections.
View a recording of the presentation and access the slides here.
The next session in the “Third Thursdays at Three” series, taking place on April 16, will focus on educating voters. The session will include a discussion of producing voter guides, training new voters on what is on a ballot and what to bring with them to the polls, and informing voters about candidates’ positions. Register for the April 16 session and receive updates about future session here.