What We Are Doing About It

An Example of Administrative Advocacy

HFU is current working to increase cooperation and coordination among agencies that provide services to those who are homeless in our community. One such collaboration is to have a coordinated entry point for those who are applying for affordable housing. Housing First Umpqua is working to facilitate our community’s three main affordable housing providers’ collaboration to provide one application to get on the waiting list for all.

Administrative Advocacy differs from Policy Advocacy, although there is some overlap.

Administrative Advocacy attempts to stay within the confines of already existing laws, rules and regulations regarding any program and services, as well as the agencies that carry them out.

Policy Advocacy can involve administrative advocacy but is really about addressing bigger public policy and laws.

Public Policy Advocacy:

Right now, Housing First Umpqua is leading the effort to improve the sanitation problem created by so many people living outside.

HFU is working with other non-profits and individuals to try to get toilets, trash cans and Sharps containers (needle disposal) where people are staying. Because we want these in places where people are living, we must get the approval of the Roseburg City Council to allow them in city parks. This will not only benefit those who are homeless, but also the entire community.

Housing First Umpqua

What We Are Doing About It

Systemic Advocacy

At Housing First Umpqua, everyone will be assessed to determine the type of help that is available to them.

Even if we cannot provide a Housing First Umpqua Advocate to provide one-on-one assistance, we help everyone identify their housing and services needs, and make authentic referrals based on individual needs.

Housing First Umpqua's SOAR volunteers help indivdiuals, who are homeless and have serious disabilities, apply for Social Security benefits. SOAR stands for SSDI/SSI Outreach Access and Recovery.

Individual Advocacy

To learn more about how to become an Income Advocate, and all about the SOAR and General Assistance (GA) programs to help disabled homeless obtain income, click here.

Individual Advocacy

Systemic Advocacy

Our Individual advocacy will focus on getting people housed as quickly as possible.

Housing First Umpqua will offer a Housing First Assessment (HFA) to help

Bottom-line, we will not end homelessness without significant changes being made to how we currently do things.

We need to reduce the barriers that exist in current programs, as well as change public policies that prevent us from putting the resources we need into making evidence-based changes work.

HFU attempts to do both by working on systemic change in two main ways.

When we encounter an access issue within an administrative agency of a government entity or other organization, we will try to fix it within the agency via Administrative Advocacy. If we need to look to the policy makers, we will try to make changes at that level when necessary through Policy Advocacy.

Housing First Umpqua does both Administrative Advocacy and Public Policy Advocacy.

We must change the system to improve the situation.

HFU is working to do just that.

Making Public Policy Changes

Policy & Program Focus:

Housing First Umpqua also supports state legislation that will create a Homeless Bill of Rights or Right to Rest Act here in Oregon. Such a law would prevent cities from making or enforcing local laws that deny homeless citizens the right to have a place to sleep, sit, rest, eat or use the restroom.

We use research to determine the best evidence-based programs and policies, to determine what we will advocate for. HFU uses a variety of means to educate the public, as well as policy makers, about the issues.

We advocate for programs and services that will help end homeless by addressing each contributing factor based on the needs of the individual. HFU advocates at the program level and public policy level.

HFU has a variety of policy and program focuses that we believe need to be addressed if we are going to solve homelessness.

Administrative Advocacy:

Administrative Advocacy refers to addressing problems within an agency or organization. Sometimes Administrative Advocacy is carried out in the context of an individual’s case. Other times, Administrative Advocacy is about working with agency heads to change harmful policy and practices.

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Administrative advocacy:

The Powers That Be:

Douglas County Commissioners:

Tim Freeman freeman@co.douglas.or.us

Chris Boice boice@co.douglas.or.us

Tom Kress kress@co.douglas.or.us

“The Board of Commissioners (Board) is the County governing body. They provide a direct link between the citizens of Douglas County and their County Government”. (DC website)

The DC Board of Commissioners oversees the county parks, which includes Amacher Park that HFU believes would be a good “safe space” for people living outside in this pandemic. Amacher Park has showers, restrooms, campgrounds, plenty of space and is on a bus line, making it accessible to services people need. Plus it is closed down right now like the public campgrounds the people of our county own like: Whistlers Bend out Hwy 138 way, Stanton Park (Canyonville) and Windy Cove in Reedsport. All of these have restrooms and showers that could help address the sanitation needs of people living outside right now.

Housing First Umpqua just sent a letter to our Douglas County Commissioners asking them to take immediate action to open Amacher Park to provide “safe space” for people who are living outside right now.

City of Roseburg

https://www.cityofroseburg.org/

Phone: 541-492-6700