ACTION TIPS
YES!
With all the competing causes out there,
is it worthwhile to contact your local politician? YES!
Your opinion matters and indeed politicians do pay attention to both the number of and the content of correspondence they receive on an issue from their own constituents.
Contact Information
Ottawa Members of Parliament (MP)
How to get politicians' attention
All that is needed to make homelessness a priority is political will from politicians at all three levels of government. The policy and program tools to address homelessness are well known. Politicians need to work as a team.
Use your energy to write letters or approach politician on behalf of those experiencing homelessness.
Tips for writing letters to politicians
Identify your name and address
- Make yourself known as a constituent.
Keep it brief and simple
- Keep letters to one page and one issue.
- Remember there’s no need to be an expert to believe that no family or individual should be homeless in our community and to let a politician know that ending homelessness is a priority for you.
- Emphasize the need for policy solutions.
Personal or form letter
- An original letter from one person shows commitment and dedication, but the sheer number of letters also shows many people are concerned and that too has an impact.
State the topic clearly and request action
Dear Member of Parliament:
As one of your constituents, I believe that no individual or family should be homeless in our community.
Ending homelessness is a priority for me. Politicians at all levels need to work together on this because many people in Ottawa do not have sufficient income to pay their rent and meet basic living expenses. There just is not enough affordable housing in our community.
How can you make this a priority in your work?
Please let me know the details of what you will do to make ending homelessness a priority.
Yours truly,
Your signature
or type your name
Your address
Ask for a specific response
- Politicians usually thank constituents for correspondence, but you will need to ask for specific information.
Send a thank-you
- When you get a response, follow-up with a thank-you letter to encourage your representative to stand firm on the issue.
Additional Tips for Emails & Faxes
Use the formal qualities of a letter (see sample above)
- Avoid the informality of e-mails by being formal and courteous.
- Pay attention to spelling, punctuation, and capitalization and avoid slang.
Send emails to one politician at a time.
- When you send a copy, put the cc at the end of your message too.
- For example, you might copy the Prime Minister on a letter to you local MP.
Use a formal salutation: “Dear . . ,”
- Your e-mail will be more personal and it minimizes the risk of being treated as impersonal junk mail.
State the topic in the Subject line of your e-mail.
- For example: Concerned about homelessness
Tips for Telephone Calls
Before phoning
- Know the exact name of the person you are calling.
- Be prepared to deliver your message clearly and briefly. but remember that you do not have to be an expert to say what you believe.
At the beginning of the Call
- Provide your name .
- Identify yourself as a constituent and give your address & phone number.
Before talking about the issue
- Ask to speak with the elected official.
- Be prepared to be put through to a staff member, but ask that your position and request be forwarded to your elected official.
Request Action
- Ask that your elected official take concrete action on ending homelessness.
- You can ask for and expect policy solutions to end homelessness without having to know the details of various solutions for housing and services.
- Ask to be kept informed about what they are going to do.
Send a thank-you letter or e-mail
- After your telephone call, send a thank-you by letter of email, reminding the politician to let you know what they will do.
Contacting Newspapers
Why Letters to the Editor?
Politicians and/or their staff monitor the letter pages of local newspapers.
In addition, published letters can raise awareness of the importance of ending homelessness among readers who would not otherwise hear that opinion.
Even if not published, your letter about ending homelessness could bring to the newspaper’s attention an issue of public concern and therefore one to be reported on.
Tips for Writing Letters to the Editor
Keep letters short
Most newspapers have words limits of around 200-300 words.
Include your name, address and contact information
Newspapers will almost always contact and confirm the sender before publishing a letter.
Linking your letter
It is helpful to link your letter to story or editorial in the paper, but always "stay on message" by emphasizing your own point. Letters do not always need to be related to current news.
Organizing yours points
Place your main point at the beginning.
Writing style
Be straightforward, clear and organized about your writing and try to avoid sarcasm and slang.
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