By Tori Bourret, NLIHC housing advocacy organizer

We are in the last week of NLIHC’s Membership Month. This week we are highlighting the ways our members open the door to a growing movement. Our members and partners involve NLIHC in policy events throughout the country. For NLIHC staff this is an opportunity to learn more about housing challenges in local communities. For local advocates, NLIHC provides ways to address affordable housing shortages through federal policy and advocacy work. Recently, I was invited by organization member, Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing (OCAH) to speak at its 2018 Affordable Housing Conference about housing affordability challenges and solutions.

Andrea Frymire, secretary on the Board of Directors for the OCAH, shared with me that she appreciates the outreach and education NLIHC offers its members.

“NLIHC membership provides critical data and research to help further the mission of the Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing as we strive to provide housing solutions for low to moderate income Oklahomans.  We were honored to have Victoria Bourret participate in our 2018 Affordable Housing Conference:Plan.Build.House.  Tori provided our 350+ attendees with up-to-the-minute information on national issues during a federal legislative panel and provided 20 workshop session attendees with ways to better advocate for affordable housing.”

Funding affordable homes is a challenge in Oklahoma but groups like the OCAH are bringing people together to convince policymakers that solving the affordable housing crisis helps an entire community. I was able to share with their members ways to talk about funding affordable homes that can appeal to a wide audience. It was meaningful to be able to dialogue with advocates on the ground about effective advocacy strategies to best meet the needs of the lowest income households in Oklahoma.

Tori in OK
Members of the Federal Legislative Update Panel at the 2018 Affordable Housing Conference from left to right: Moderator Lance Windel, LW Development; Garth Rieman, National Council of State Housing Agencies; Tori Bourret, National Low Income Housing Coalition; & Josh Yurek, Midwest Housing Equity Group

My presentation at the 2018 Affordable Housing Conference: Plan.Build.House was made possible through the contributions of our members. The information that I presented was generated with member support and shared through a member network. Please consider joining this network!

This blog is part of a series of blogs highlighting NLIHC member-driven advocacy successes for Membership Month. Find out more about Membership Month at: https://bit.ly/2f16bCh