Advocacy Basics

 


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Campaign Planning & Strategy

  • Campaign Strategies (opens in new window)
    This website is full of information and suggestions for anyone trying to save the world.  It explores stucture and strategy applicable to most campaigns.


  • Communications Planning (.pdf)
    The University of British Columbia published this Powerpoint presentation offering the basics of creating a communications plan. Very straightforward and helpful.


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Engaging the Media

  • Media Tip Sheet (.pdf)
    Tthe logistics of attracting the media to your story, what should go in your media kit and other ways of keeping in the public eye.


  • Letters to the Editor (.pdf)
    Ann Fitzpatrick put this list of contacts to various media for any letters to the editor your agency may do.

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Taking Action

  • Getting Involved: Housing and Public Education (.ppt)
    Tanya Gulliver from Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, Ann Fitzpatrick from Housing Action Now, Jennifer Ramsay from Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, Michael Steeves from Homelessness Action Group and Naomi Berlyne from Central Neighbourhood House talked about their organizations and put together some tips on what you should consider when trying to convey information to the public and politicians.

  • Lobbying Your Municipal Politicians (.pdf)
    Who are your representatives and what can they do? How do you prepare for your meeting and then follow up?


  • Making Deputations (.pdf)
    A few suggestions from the city on how to make deputations to standing committees of Toronto City Council.


  • Organizing a Community Meeting (.pdf)
    How do you prepare for the meeting, what are the logistics and physical set up you need to consider, and how should you structure the meeting?

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Getting Involved: Housing Help and Public Education Resources*

Advocacy (click to open or close)

 

  • Advocacy Tool Kit Checklist » Download the checklist here.
    A comprehensive checklist to ensure you’ve covered off everything in your campaign. Produced by ACTO.


  • Disabled Women’s Network » Visit the website.
    This website has great tool kits and resources for media lobbying.


  • Generic Advocacy Strategy » Download the .ppt presentation here.
    Deliberate and strategic use of information to influence decision-making. This presentation demonstrates the steps to take in developing and implementing an advocacy initiative. Produced by the Ontario Public Health Association.

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How Government Works (click to open or close)

 

  • A Guide to Decision-Making » Visit the website.
    Find out how decisions are made in the City. Produced by the City of Toronto.


  • Community and Government Relations: Influencing Government » Visit the website.
    This website includes information on coalitions, what to do during an election, and how government makes decisions. Extra resources provided. Created by the Voluntary Sector Knowledge Network.


  • Toronto City Council » Visit the website.
    This website covers the gamut of decision-making at City Council including council structure, the strategic plan, the city plan, elections, upcoming meetings and much, much more. Developed by the City of Toronto..

  • Keep These Numbers to Access Resources or People in Government Quickly:
    • City: Access Toronto: 416-338-0338
    • Province: 416-326-1234
    • Federal Government: 1-800-622-6232

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Lobbying (click to open or close)

 

  • Elements of Successful Lobbying » Visit the page here.
    A short overview on some of things to consider when lobbying. Created by Scott Proudfoot at Hillwatch.


  • The Institute for Media, Policy And Civil Society (IMPACS) » Visit the website.
    Provides communication training and services to not-for-profit organizations, helping them become more articulate about their causes and more effective at telling their stories.


  • The Lobbying Handbook: A Resource for Your Non-Profit Group » Download the kit.
    Includes information on the media, meeting with politicians, presentation tips and more. Produced by the SPACE Coalition.


  • Women’s Lobby Kit: Diverse Women Influencing the City of Ottawa » Download the kit here.
    Gives basic information on how city council works and lobbying skills. Produced by City of All Women Initiative.

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Public Policy (click to open or close)

 

  • Be H.I.P.P: Have Influence on Public Policy: A Manual and Toolkit on How Voluntary Organizations Can Influence Public Policy » Download the .pdf here and Download the e-learning module here.
    Includes information about how organizations can affect public policy including how to see with the lens of a politician, and effective advocacy strategies and tactics. Produced by YMCA Canada.


  • Developing Your Policy Strategy: Strategy and Action Plan Worksheets » Download the .pdf here.
    Great tool for putting together your own strategy and action plan. Created by Health Canada.


  • Participating in Federal Public Policy: A Guide for the Voluntary Sector » View the page here.
    Navigating, influencing and strategizing around public policy are the focus in this excellent resource.


  • Voluntary Sector Public Policy Toolbox » Access the toolbox here.
    This toolbox includes information about policymaking in Canada, voluntary sector directed input, knowledge and skills, government relations and advocacy and lists and resources. Created by Ginsler & Associates.

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Voting (click to open or close)

 

  • Election Kit » Download the .pdf here.
    Excellent guide to elections which covers such topics as lobbying, event planning, meeting politicians and candidates, leaders tours and handling the media. Developed by Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario.


  • Municipal Election Kit » Download the .pdf here.
    Looks at the key election issues related to housing, information about voting and the candidates, housing questions for candidates, background information about housing and homelessness in the city, affordable housing and eviction prevention. Developed by Housing Action Now.


  • Vote for a Change » Download the .pdf here.
    Tips for agencies to help them encourage clients to vote. Developed by the partners involved in Vote for a Change.

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Community Websites (click to open or close)

 

  • Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) » www.acto.ca.
    Works to better the housing situation of Ontario residents who have low incomes including tenants, co-op members and people who are homeless. ACTO achieves this through test case litigation, lobbying and law reform, housing policy work, community organizing, and, public legal education.


  • Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) » www.equalityrights.org/cera.
    The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation is a non-profit human rights organization that promotes human rights in housing. CERA works to remove the barriers that keep disadvantaged individuals and families from accessing and retaining the housing they need.


  • Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) » www.torontotenants.org.
    Non-profit organization which advocates for better rights for tenants.


  • Homelessness Action Group » www.homelessness.on.ca.
    Group of faith-based and community-based members who seek to mobilize public concern and political will to end homelessness in Toronto.


  • Housing Action Now (HAN)
    A non-partisan organization with a focus on promoting policies, programs and services that will reduce homelessness and create affordable housing solutions.


  • Housing Again » www.housingagain.web.net.
    Website for Ontario’s affordable housing activists.


  • Legal Aid Ontario » www.lao.on.ca.
    Legal Aid is available to low income individuals and disadvantaged communities for a variety of legal problems,including landlord/tenant disputes. This website includes news, resources and a list of clinics.


  • Ontario Coalition for Social Justice » www.ocsj.ca.
    A coalition of labour unions and community groups dedicated to promoting social and economic justice in Ontario.


  • Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal (ORHT) » www.orht.gov.on.ca.
    The ORHT resolves disputes between landlords and tenants through either mediation or adjudication, regulates rent increases and educates landlords and tenants about the rights and obligations each has under the Tenant Protection Act.


  • Raising the Roof » www.raisingtheroof.org.
    Raising the Roof is Canada's only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness.


  • Toronto Disaster Relief Committee » www.tdrc.net.
    Group of activists from a wide range of fields which are active on numerous fronts to advocate on housing and homelessness.

*These resources were compiled from a number of different sources including ACTO and HAN

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