Budget Forum 2017

Budget Forum 2017

Advocacy and communication strategies for the FY 2018 federal budget process

With the White House proposal for $54 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary programs, federal funding for housing is greatly at risk this fiscal year and next. On March 30, NHC held our Annual Budget Forum to set the discussion in this difficult budget context. Experts in housing policy and communications shared practical advice for advocacy and communication strategies based on the latest research.

The forum started with opening remarks from NHC’s President and CEO Chris Estes. NHC’s Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Clark presented on the frames in which people interpret messages and how we can best craft our messages for members of Congress. NHC’s Vice President for Policy & Advocacy Ethan Handelman gave an overview of how funding is funneled within the HUD budget, and panelist speakers shared strategies to use when advocating for resources, which included using value messaging, sharing landscaping stories (positioning housing in a broader picture), connecting housing as a solution to broader issues (i.e. decreasing high usage of emergency health care), showing the measurable impact of housing, inviting Congress members to tour housing developments and more.

2017 Annual Budget Forum Speakers (in order of appearance):

Chris Estes, president and CEO, National Housing Conference
Amy Clark, senior director of marketing and communications, National  Housing Conference
Ethan Handelman, vice president for policy and advocacy, National Housing  Conference
Andy McMahon, vice president of policy and external affairs, CSH
Emily Cadik, director of public policy, Enterprise Community Partners
Christopher Ptomey, senior director of government relations, Habitat for Humanity International

Watch the webinar recording below

View presentation slides
View information on value messaging
View speaker bios