In a recent survey of congressional offices in Washington, D.C., 90 percent of offices said they pay “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of attention to constituent mail. Members of Congress often make voting decisions based on the letters they receive from their constituents regarding legislation. Each U.S. congressional office has several special employees called “legislative correspondents” whose sole responsibility is to respond in a timely manner to constituent mail. Please note that increased security concerns have caused a delay in mail to federal representatives. When conducting federal letter-writing campaigns, call, e-mail or fax your opinions if the vote is within two weeks. Note: Check the Act! Speak! Build! Week Web site http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/actspeakbuild/ to see if letter-writing templates are available. Please contact the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy if you are sending a letter other than a form letter generated by HFHI. E-mail washingtonoffice@habitat.org, or call (202) 628-9171, Ext. 4900.
Possible small-scale writing campaigns:
• Individuals carry around a stack of postcards with a pre-designed template to classes. Throughout the day, they share with classmates information about poverty in the United States, the need for decent, affordable housing and Habitat for Humanity. Have other students sign postcards that are counted and mailed at the end of the day.
• Have someone give a brief presentation on a particular legislative issue at a meeting. Conclude the presentation with some points to include in a letter. Members can write their own handwritten letters to a congressperson.
Possible medium-scale writing campaigns:
• Set up a table in the student union or a community gathering place. Have copies of a pre-designed, fill-in-the-blank letter. Rotate shifts at the table so someone is there all day. Have some people help students/community members add the proper information to the letters while others interact with the passing crowds to invite them to write a letter.
• Get permission from some teachers/professors to briefly speak about a legislative resolution to be considered this year. At the beginning or end of class, these students speak and invite classmates to write a letter using the template.
Possible large-scale writing campaign:
• Partner with another social justice organization and set up multiple tables around campus or their community—in the union, outside the cafeteria, in the library lobby, outside, in residence halls. Speak with students, faculty/staff/administration and community members as they pass by and invite them to fill out a letter template.
Who will participate?
• Executive board/Youth United Steering Committee, chapter/group members, students on campus, community members faculty/staff/administration.
Who will you write to?
• President
• State representative, congressperson, governor
• Local mayor
• City council member
What will you write about?
• Nationwide template from http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/actspeakbuild/ .
• Template from your local affiliate. Find their contact information at www.habitat.org/local.
• Compose your own. If it is a federal issue, confirm the subject with the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy. E-mail washingtonoffice@habitat.org, or call (202) 628-9171, ext. 4900. If it is a state or local issue, confirm with your local affiliate.
What correspondence format will you use?
• A postcard or letter.
• Pre-printed form or handwritten.
• Template/fill-in-the-blank, personally written.
• Petition with signatures.
• E-mail template.
What kind of material will you use?
• Consider using the letterhead of your chapter, affiliate or school.
• Consider securing donated paper products, stamps and mailing labels.
• Computers with Internet access.
When will the writing campaign take place?
• During Act! Speak! Build! Week.
• Another advocacy effort at your school.
Where is your writing campaign going to occur?
• Inside or outside.
• Academic buildings (library, halls), social buildings (gym, cafeteria, union, dorms) and/or community centers.
How is the correspondence to be delivered?
• Mail
• Fax (faster delivery time)
• E-mail (fast and less expensive method)
• Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If the letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly: e.g. House bill: H.R. ___; Senate bill: S. ___.
• Be courteous and to the point, including key information and using examples to support your position. Local stories and personal messages are very persuasive!
• Address only one issue in each letter, and if possible, keep the letter to a page.
• You can find physical and e-mail addresses at for senators and representatives at www.congress.org.
• Don’t be discouraged if the reply you receive is not from the congressperson.
• It is more than likely that you will receive a reply from a legislative aide. Do not worry; at the very least, your voice was heard and recorded in terms of a tally that the congressperson will hear!
