Leadership Development Institute

Homes for Families (HFF) creates opportunities for leadership skills development for parents who have been homeless or are currently homeless. In this aspect, parents are organized and educated about public policy and the various levels of advocacy. Parents further strengthen their leadership skills by participating in HFF’s advocacy direction, and by becoming leaders in the movement to ending family homelessness.

The Public Policy Series include two levels.

Level One Public Policy Series introduces Families Acting together to advocacy and the advocacy tools needed to end family homelessness. In small groups parents participants learn about

• The basics of public policy;
• The State Budget process;
• Public speaking;
• Telling their story;
• Voting ; and
• How to meet with their elected officials.

Level Two Public Policy Series, commonly known as the Advanced Public Policy training, trains graduates from the Family Acting Together series in skills building to become proactive advocates. Families put into action what they learned at level one such as:

• Writing letters and making calls to their legislators,
• Engaging in housing campaigns,
• Participating in the Speakers Bureau.
  

The Advanced Group members in level two take on leadership roles which include;

• Facilitating level one FAT series,
• Mentoring other parents,
• Assuming responsibility in HFF’s advocacy activities, and
  Becoming HFF’s board Members.