The staff at Plymouth Housing Group represent “advocacy in action” every day and night on the job. Staff in each department at Plymouth perform their own specialized acts of advocacy to support our mission.
Story by Kelli Larsen, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Plymouth Housing Group
Case managers and building staff are the heart of Plymouth’s advocacy operation — supporting our residents to remain permanently housed and to build their own community and quality of life.
Our residents are also advocates — for themselves, for their neighbors and loved ones, for other causes they care about.
We rely on many types of advocacy, from every person at every level, to keep Plymouth at the forefront of lasting solutions.
We must also advocate for government funding and policies that further our work to end homelessness. Click here to find out how you can help us with an urgent advocacy need this week.
In February, a group of nearly 20 staff from Plymouth traveled to Olympia for Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. The day is organized by the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, of which Plymouth is a proud member.
It is a day to wear a red scarf with 700 other housing advocates from across the state.
It is a day to chant on the capitol steps: What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!
It is a day to step away from our regular responsibilities and focus on state funding and policies that impact our work.
It is a day to consider the stories from our daily advocacy and interaction with Plymouth residents and transfer them to our representatives in the Washington State Legislature.
Our staff group represented ten different districts from across Western Washington, and many were able to share their unique stories and perspectives directly with their elected officials. You’ll love this wonderful example involving Plymouth staff member Kimberly Harrell & Rep. Eileen Cody.
We also delivered a collective letter of thanks to Governor Inslee for his support of housing issues. (see photo below)
Some of the big issues we were talking about and advocating for were the Housing Trust Fund (invest at least $100 million) and protecting the Lifeline benefits for disabled and elderly adults. The fate of these funds is unknown at this point, so stay tuned for more opportunities to advocate.
- Please consider taking 10 minutes to urge your U.S. Senators and Representatives to support critical legislation.
- Learn more about the key issues this year and actions you can take.
Scenes from a great day of advocacy and community. Clockwise, from top: The Plymouth Housing Group delegation gathers in the sun for a group photo before meeting with their home district lawmakers; The Plymouth delegation’s thank you letter to Governor Jay Inslee; Plymouth staff exchange tips and laughs in between sessions; and Kelli Larsen (at far right) with Daryl Daugs of Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County and Rep. Sherry Appleton, all of the 23rd District. Photos by Plymouth staff.