Advocacy Activities
One of the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition’s (NSHHC) main methods of advancing its goals is through coordinated individual advocacy. Coalition members are encouraged and provided opportunities throughout the year to engage with congressional offices through outreach and Hill Day meetings to host local events and more. The resources collected below help equip advocates when communicating to their legislators about healthy housing policy, including FAQs about in-person advocacy, guidance on how to write persuasively, and state and agency healthy housing fact sheets.
Advocacy FAQs
This resource provides answers to some frequently asked questions you may have related to federal and local policy advocacy with your senators and representative. If you are new to speaking with your congressmembers or need a refresher, this document can help you navigate how to prepare and what to expect during advocacy meetings. This resource also includes guidance on how to communicate effectively to Congress in mediums like impact statements, one-pagers, op-eds, and more. [pdf; NCHH, 2025]
Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor: How to Write Persuasively and Advocate Effectively
This slide deck provides an overview of how to write an effective op-ed, including guidance on structure, crafting a strong hook and argument, and tips for publishing. It also includes helpful templates and examples to support you in developing your own pieces. This slide deck was used during a presentation to coalition members in October 2025. [ppt; NCHH, 2025]
Op-ed Writing: The Basics
This resource offers tips and guiding questions to help you begin shaping your op-ed. It serves as a reference for refining tone, organization, and overall message development. [url; OpEd Project]
How to Write an Op-Ed
This one-page guide offers concise tips and an outline for writing a strong op-ed. It highlights key elements such as clarity, persuasive arguments, and audience engagement to help writers refine their messages. [pdf, NAST]
Advocacy Education Series: Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
This guide provides an overview of how to write an effective op-ed and letter to the editor. It walks through the key steps to outline your purpose, structure, and value for advocacy. This resource provides thorough advice on writing with clarity and impact. [pdf; OpEd Project]
Template – Op-Ed
This document serves as a guide to writing an effective op-ed. It offers a simple template to organize your ideas, craft a strong message, and develop a compelling argument. [pdf, VFC, 2024]
Healthy Housing Agency Fact Sheets
Developed by NCHH, these agency fact sheets are an advocacy tool designed to share information about the why the agency is important to healthy homes activities, which specific programs are most relevant and their program activities, the current/historical funding numbers, and the impact or return on investment. See NCHH’s agency fact sheets for more information on why support for all federal healthy homes programming is critically important [url; NCHH].
State Healthy Housing Fact Sheets
NCHH has created fact sheets for each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia; the territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and a sheet for the U.S. as a whole. Each state fact sheet provides statistics about healthy housing hazards and what critical healthy housing funding is received by the state. These fact sheets can be used by advocates to demonstrate the need and impact of funding in your state [url; 2025].
If you’re interested in or have questions about how to get involved in NSHHC advocacy activities, contact anna@nshhcoalition.org.
Latest page update: December 19, 2025.