Civic Engagement

YOU can do something!
Consider contacting your local elected representatives and express your concern about homelessness and the critical lack of affordable housing in York Region. Remember you don’t have to be an expert.
Ending homelessness is a worthwhile investment .... with dividends of better and reduced health costs, a much-needed economic investment in housing, a more employed and better-educated work force and, best of all, a more vibrant community for all its members.

Contact your York Region elected representatives
Federal   Provincial   Regional    Municipal

Tips for writing letters to elected representatives

• Identify your name and address and identify yourself as a constituent
• Keep letters to one page and one issue
• You don’t have to be an expert to have concerns about homelessness and lack of affordable housing in your community
• An original letter shows commitment and dedication
• The number of letters from different people demonstrates how many people are concerned about the issue
• Request a specific response
• Send a thank you letter in response

 
Additional Tips for Emails & Faxes

• Use the formal qualities of a letter, including formal salutations
• Be courteous
• Pay attention to spelling, punctuation and capitalization and avoid slang
• Send one email at a time (do not do multiple mailings)
• Subject Line could be "Concerned about homelessness and critical lack of affordable housing"

 
Tips for Telephone Calls

Before phoning

• Know the exact name of the person you are calling
• Be prepared to deliver your message clearly and briefly. Remember you do not have to be an expert to say what you believe

 
At the beginning of the call

• Provide your name and identify yourself as a constituent (provide address and phone number)
• Ask to speak to an elected official
• Be prepared to be put through to a staff member, but ask that your position and request be forwarded to your elected official
• Express interest in policy solutions to end homelessness and improved availability of affordable housing
• After your call, send a thank you letter or email with a reminder that you are looking forward to hearing from them about future developments

 
Contacting Newspapers - Letters to the Editor

• Keep letters short (200 – 300 words)
• Include name, address and phone number
• It is helpful to link your letter to a story or editorial but emphasize your own point.
• Letters do not always have to be related to current news
• Place your main point at the beginning of the letter