We know that where we live impacts everything.
We are four days away from the end of the 2017 legislative session. Last week on Thursday 5/11, the Homes for All campaign held a rally for a larger and more impactful bonding bill. More than 70 people advocated at the Capitol for more bonding dollars, and over 175 individuals called their lawmakers across the state. MCH members, individual advocates, and developers came together in determination to speak with their lawmaker about an increase to the bonding bill. We raised our voices together and made housing bonds a priority for our legislators.
MCH member Resource, Inc brought some of their staff to the steps of the Capitol to lobby their lawmakers for bonding dollars. Resource, Inc delivers a holistic approach toward well-being, pairing employment services with chemical and mental health services. Courtney Gunderson, an MSW, LGSW, Team Lead for Resource, shares her experience from the rally.
“Rallies make me giddy. Our state has some of the best, most enthusiastic advocates for housing. It brings me immense joy to be surrounded by such passionate and tireless people, and for an emergency rally as an effort to fight for Homes for All. Several of my colleagues accompanied me to the rally, and I
must say that I am lucky to be a part of an agency like Resource, Inc that supports engagement in advocacy, as many of the individuals our agency serves are greatly impacted by policy surrounding housing.
I do my research, and homelessness is a solvable issue. Research can also tell us that investing in housing saves money and fosters stability in peoples’ lives, so they are able to attend to their needs and achieve their goals. At this moment, there are too many people holding their backpacks through the night to prevent them from being stolen in a shelter or on the street. A home is a refuge. It is a place to set your backpack on the floor, and understand that it is going to be there in the morning and that you have a kitchen to prepare your family’s breakfast.” – Courtney Gunderson
Without a bonding bill, many infrastructure projects statewide have been put on hold and costs are accumulating. Bonding bills require a three-fifths majority to pass and will need strong bipartisan support in both chambers.