Current Alerts and Opportunities
Get the Coalition’s Action Alerts!
Throughout the year, as important opportunities arise to contact representatives at any level of government, or to reach out to the public, the Homeless Coalition emails action alerts to members and to everyone one our email list. Sign up to receive time-critical information about proposed legislation and policy issues. Most action alerts include links to easily submit input to your representatives or addresses for your Letters to the Editor. See the Sign-Up Form in the Sidebar to the right.
Scroll down to find your representatives’ phone numbers and email links!
Advocacy Opportunities:
Stay informed and act quickly. With changes happening so rapidly now (especially at the Federal level), we urge you to sign up for Action Alerts from these organizations:
- Idaho Asset Building Network (IABN)
- National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)
- National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
- Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC)
- National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC)
2026 LOCAL/STATE ADVOCACY:
The 2026 Idaho Legislative Session has ended. Thank you for your participation and advocacy! You can continue to contact your legislators about issues you feel are important.
Below are links and resources you can use to follow and participate in your state government processes:
Refresher on Legislative Process: Idaho Legislative session 101 guidebook (compliments of The Idaho Capital Sun)
Idaho Legislative Home Page: https://legislature.idaho.
JFAC — Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (responsible for balancing the budget and making critical decisions) is a combination of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. You can watch these hearings, and communicate with committee members, but they do not hear testimony. Here is their webpage (agendas posted here):
https://legislature.idaho.gov/
Standing Committees (selected for decisions associated with our community) and 2026 chairpersons:
Idaho Senate — key committees: https://
- Finance: Chair C. Scott Grow – SGrow@senate.idaho.gov
- Health & Welfare: Chair Julie VanOrden – JVanOrden@senate.idaho.gov
- Local Government & Taxation: Chair Doug Ricks – DRicks@senate.idaho.gov
- State Affairs: Chair Jim Guthrie – JGuthrie@senate.idaho.gov
Idaho House of Representatives — key committees: https://
- Appropriations: Chair Josh Tanner – JTanner@house.idaho.
gov - Health & Welfare: Chair John Vander Woude – JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov
- Local Government: Chair Barbara Ehardt – BEhardt@house.idaho.
gov - State Affairs: Chair Brent Crane – BCrane@house.idaho.gov
- Ways & Means: Chair Jeff Ehlers – JEhlers@house.idaho.
gov
FEDERAL ADVOCACY:
There are fast-moving changes at the national level—and finding focus as advocates is increasingly difficult. We encourage you to sign up for action alerts with NAEH and NLIHC to stay informed.
Tell Congress to Expand – Not Cut – Federal Investments in Affordable Housing and Homelessness Assistance Programs!
“The bill before us proposes to eliminate all investments for eviction prevention and reduces HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants by more than $256 million,” said The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim Clyburn (D-SC). “This comes at a time when more than 771,000 people are experiencing homelessness, and 75% of low-income renters are spending more than half of their income on rent.” Ranking Member Clyburn also highlighted the bill’s 65% cut to fair housing enforcement.
Other ranking members and representatives expressed similar concerns.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Use NLIHC’s Take Action tool to take action on the FY27 spending bill, and urge federal lawmakers to increase investments in HUD programs.
“Dear America: Your Rights Are on the Line”
Current and former HUD Employees Speak Up; Lawsuit Filed
“We are the federal workers who protect America from discrimination. The federal government is dismantling YOUR right to safe housing and essential services—and silencing us to hide it from you. We break that silence and ask you to stand with us, before it’s too late.”
- A small number of current and former employees of the Department of Housing and Urban Development wrote letters and launched a website in April 2026 to accuse the Trump administration of blocking enforcement of federal fair housing laws.
- Sixteen Democratic attorneys general from California, Illinois, the District of Columbia and other states are suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development for restricting anti-discrimination enforcement.
One HUD employee wrote: “We’re not being allowed to help the people that we’re supposed to be serving,”
Another letter says, “Months later, I still think about the people impacted by the work I was forced to abandon.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Read about the Dear America Letters on NPR
- Read about the lawsuit on Politico
- Visit the dearamericaletters website to learn more, read the letters and take action
Your Voice is Important – thank you for your advocacy!
Wait, what??
HUD Moves to ELIMINATE Key Eviction Protections
On March 2, several organizations teamed up to sue HUD over a recently promulgated rule rescinding HUD’s previous eviction protections for tenants. This rule would REMOVE the requirement for landlords of project-based HUD housing to provide a 30-day notice to tenants facing eviction, maintain a ledger of unpaid rent and other charges, and give the tenant an opportunity to cure any arrearage.
The rule change could impact more than 2 million people living in 1.2 million households, many of whom are senior citizens, families with children, and households that include a member with a disability.
Learn more HERE; then contact your legislators and urge them to support Fair Housing protections for renters.
VA Turns Away from Proven Housing Model
Using the Housing First approach cut veteran homelessness by 56 percent since 2010 by prioritizing stable housing and voluntary services.
Despite this amazing progress, the current administration is abandoning Housing First and pushing coercive alternatives like government-run encampments and centralized facilities. Our veterans deserve so much better!
READ MORE about the VA’s alarming new enforcement tool.
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA): This bill has bi-partisan support and is currently in the SENATE (a similar bill was previously introduced in the House). It would expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and help build 1.6 million affordable homes over a decade.
Read/Track the bill HERE
Sample message:
Support the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act and a proven solution for building more affordable homes. This bill will strengthen the opportunities for development and extend LIHTC, build more homes, and infuse our communities with the skilled jobs that come with development.
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is a win:win for Idaho’s residents and our communities.
Thank you for supporting and voting yes on the AHCIA.
Here are ways to connect and leave your message:
- Call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 (and ask for whichever senator or representative you want)
- Call the local offices:
Sen. James Risch: Phone: 208-342-7985 (Boise office)
Sen. Mike Crapo: Phone: 208-334-1776 (Boise office)
Rep. Mike Simpson: Phone: 208-334-1953 (Boise office) Must choose based on your address
Rep. Russ Fulcher: Phone: (208) 888-3188 (Meridian office) Must choose based on your address
- Write emails from their websites:
Sen. James Risch: https://www.risch.senate.gov/
Sen. Mike Crapo: https://www.crapo.senate.gov/
Rep. Mike Simpson: https://simpson.house.gov/
Rep. Russ Fulcher: https://fulcher.house.gov/
- Use the NAEH Action Alert Pages: This will use your address to automatically connect with proper congressional delegate: https://endhomelessness.org/
help-end-homelessness/take- action/ - Your organization can sign on to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s national letter. Access it HERE
Education Resources:
National Homelessness Law Center: See past webinars on current issues, including the criminalization of homelessness. Archived. No Charge or membership required. https://homelesslaw.org/
National Low Income Housing Coalition: Housing Needs by State
National Coalition for the Homeless: 10 Point Plan for Ending Homelessness in your City, County or State