NLIHC state and tribal partners are the member organizations with which we work most closely. Partners receive specialized support from NLIHC to enhance their participation in federal housing advocacy. In turn, they commit to being a primary advocate for housing for the lowest-income renters in their region and to educate and mobilize their network to advocate for NLIHC’s policy priorities. NLIHC depends on our state and tribal partners to inform us about federal housing issues arising in their areas so that NLIHC can raise them at the federal level.
State partners are independent housing and homelessness advocacy organizations that serve whole states or regions within states. Tribal partners are non-profit organizations that serve members of tribes in a particular geographic region and prioritize advocacy for the lowest-income renters. Six positions of NLIHC’s board of directors are reserved for current state and tribal partners. New partners go through an NLIHC board-approval process to ensure they can meet the qualifications and expectations listed below. Currently, NLIHC has 67 state partners operating in 45 states and the District of Columbia, as well as one tribal partner operating in the Northern Plains region.
To learn more about NLIHC’s state and tribal partners, please contact the Housing Advocacy Organizer for Your State!
NLIHC State & Tribal Partners
Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessnesss
Alabama Arise
Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama
Arizona Housing Coalition
Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment
California Coalition for Rural Housing
California Housing Partnership
Housing California
Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California
Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Housing Colorado
Partnership for Strong Communities
Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development
Housing Alliance Delaware
Florida Housing Coalition, Inc.
Florida Supportive Housing Coalition
Georgia ACT
Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice
Housing Action Illinois
Prosperity Indiana
Iowa Housing Partnership
Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition
Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky
HousingLOUISIANA
Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
Community Development Network of Maryland
Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan
Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
Minnesota Housing Partnership
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless
Mississippi Center for Justice
Empower Missouri
Nebraska Housing Developers Association
Nevada Housing Coalition
Housing Action New Hampshire
Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness
Coalition for the Homeless
Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York State
New York State Rural Housing Coalition
New York State Tenants & Neighbors Information Service
Supportive Housing Network of New York
New York Housing Conference
North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness
North Carolina Housing Coalition
North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People
Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio
Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing
Oregon Housing Alliance
Housing Oregon
Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Housing Network of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness
Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina
Texas Association of Community Development Corporations
Texas Homeless Network
Texas Low Income Housing Information Service
Utah Housing Coalition
Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition
Virginia Housing Alliance
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Inc.
Tribal Territories
United Native American Housing Association (northern plains)
State Partner Qualifications, Benefits, and Expectations
Qualifications
- Current NLIHC member
- 501(c)3 non-profit organization
- Accept and support NLIHC’s policy priorities: www.nlihc.org/explore-issues/policy-priorities
- Prioritize advocacy for policies that expand affordable housing for the lowest-income renters
- Tribal partners advocate for members of tribes in a particular geographic region
- State partners advocate for constituents across an entire state or a region within a state boundary
- Have a network to mobilize
- A membership base is preferrable and membership may be broad
- If more than one partner exists in a state or region, there should be minimal overlap in their networks and strong coordination between partners
Benefits
- Exclusive monthly calls for federal policy updates, special guest speakers, and peer knowledge sharing
- Semi-annual convenings in Washington, DC, for more in-depth conversations on federal policy issues, meetings with Capitol Hill and Administration staff, and networking
- Listserv to seek answers, best practices, and more from peer organizations
- Specialized support from NLIHC staff with advocacy
- NLIHC staff speakers for partner events
- Access to pre-release copies of NLIHC data reports
- Advocacy work highlighted in NLIHC’s weekly Memo to Members and Partners
Expectations
- Serve as a primary advocate in its region regarding federal housing policy by contacting elected officials and others at key federal agencies and mobilizing its network to do the same
- Share key updates from engagement with members of Congress as they relate to NLIHC’s policy priorities
- Inform NLIHC about other federal housing issues arising in their area that we can raise with our network
- Maintain NLIHC membership
- Maintain regular contact with NLIHC staff and respond to staff requests when available
- Share NLIHC data reports and calls to action with its network as often as possible
- Support media distribution of NLIHC data reports as much as possible
- Participate as often as possible in NLIHC activities with other state and tribal partners such as monthly calls and twice-yearly meetings in Washington, DC
Become a State Partner
NLIHC always seeks to welcome new partners, particularly in states or regions where we do not currently have one. For questions or inquiries about becoming a partner, please contact Brooke Schipporeit, Manager of Field Organizing, at [email protected].
Tribal Partner Benefits & Guidelines
NLIHC’s affiliation with tribal partners is a new endeavor, created to provide affordable housing advocacy and policy support to tribal communities across the US. Partners are nonprofit organizations that serve tribal communities. Although they do not need to focus exclusively on housing or homelessness, they should prioritize increasing affordable housing for the lowest income renters and ending homelessness.
Benefits
State & tribal partners participate in monthly conference calls, twice-yearly meetings, and frequent email discussions, exchanging information and building their advocacy capacity.
Guidelines for Being an NLIHC Tribal Partner
- Organization’s purpose: Advocating for housing for low-income people is an important facet of the organization’s overall work.
- Organization’s structure: It is a nonprofit serving tribal communities. Having a membership base is a plus, but not required. Membership may be broad – for example, it may include housing industry or business groups – as long as there is no conflict with NLIHC policy priorities.
- Organization’s geographic reach: It serves members of a tribe(s) in a particular geographic region, such as northwest Alaska or the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, etc.
- Organization’s relationship with NLIHC: A. The organization should be a NLIHC member. To become a member, click here. B. The organization should accept NLIHC’s policy priorities and be willing to serve as a primary advocate in its region by contacting federal officials and by urging its network to do the same. C. The organization should participate in other NLIHC activities with other tribal and state partners such as monthly conference calls, twice-yearly meetings in Washington, DC, and media distribution of Out of Reach and other resources or materials.
Become a State Partner
NLIHC’s affiliation with our state coalition partners is central to our advocacy efforts. Although our partners' involvement varies, they are all housing and homeless advocacy organizations engaged at the state and federal level. Many are traditional coalitions with a range of members; others are local organizations that serve more informally as NLIHC's point of contact.
Inquire about becoming a state partner by contacting [email protected]
