INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Once the regulatory barriers toolkit has been finalized and we have begun to implement our strategy targeting local workshops and regional seminars, we need to promote networking among local governments to spread the knowledge of ways to overcome barriers to affordable housing. We will develop the networking opportunities with an eye toward sustainability beyond the term of this contract.

National and regional conferences and events. Participation in and outreach to audiences at national conferences with key stakeholders is a cost-effective strategy for disseminating information. Participation could include such things as a panel presentation or workshop, a booth with subject matter experts at a pre-announced time and location, materials for insertion into conference packets, a keynote address, or possibly a press event.

For example, we might create a workshop or panel discussion featuring local elected officials, a housing advocacy representative and a home builder to discuss successes for providing “workforce” housing at the National League of Cities Congress of Cities event in December 2006. We might also seek a speaking opportunity at a future National Association of Counties’ Health, Human Services and Workforce Conference, usually held in the fall.

Partner Outreach. As the availability of workforce housing continues to dwindle, the opportunity to recruit additional partners into our barrier-reduction efforts will grow. Some potential partners are local Chambers of Commerce, the National Council for La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Industrial Areas Foundation, a known leader in the affordable housing debate. We should also reach out to other trade organizations that represent “workforce housing” employees like police officers, firefighters and teachers. Examples for these organizations include the International Association of Firefighters, National Fraternal Order of Police, American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.

Turn-key kit. A variety of materials designed to assist local officials and private partners will be created and placed on the project website. These would include the materials created for the regulatory barriers toolkit as well as additional resources like case studies and streaming video from partnerships with successful barrier removal stories.
Develop and place articles. Create articles featuring relevant case studies or best practices for placement in various print and electronic trade journals like the National Association of Counties’ County News Online, or the ICMA’s Public Management magazine.

Create and distribute e-newsletter. Local anecdotes, success stories and troubleshooting advice as well as any new federal, state or local regulatory changes could be included in quarterly updates to the partners. A button could be placed on the website to “opt in” to receive the e-newsletter and we could ask our partners to place a link to the newsletter on their site.
Create links to the website. We will ask our partners, local governments and other supporters to place links on their websites to increase traffic to our site and its resources.

Create a speakers bureau. Establish a Workforce Housing Speakers Bureau to provide spokespersons, materials and a booth to promote awareness of and strategies to remove barriers to affordable housing. Venues might range from a legislative conference of the International Association of Firefighters or a meeting of one of the Industrial Areas Foundation regional chapters to a webinar discussion with members of the ICMA.