Why wait? You can contact your representatives any time to advocate for laws and policies that will address homelessness and severe shortage of affordable housing. Add your voice to the chorus of citizens demanding action on behalf of our neighbors who live in fear and insecurity without a place to call home..
Community Level:
Stay Informed – follow what’s happening in your community
Cities within Ada County: City Council meetings are open to the public. To find out how to attend, view online (if available), or read minutes and agendas, use these links:
Ada County Commissioners’ meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of the Ada County Commissioners are held at 8:00 a.m. weekdays, in the Commissioners’ Conference Room 3255, located in the Ada County Courthouse and Administration Building, 200 W. Front Street., Boise, Idaho 83702. Use the link below to find minutes and agendas.
State Level:
Our state lawmakers are elected to represent us, so it’s vital that we communicate with them to help them understand what we need and want to live safe, healthy and prosperous lives in Idaho. Below are links and information to help you advocate for yourselves, your families and your community.
Idaho Legislative Home Page: https://legislature.idaho.gov/
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/sessioninfo/2026/joint/jfac
Standing Committees (selected for decisions associated with our community) and 2026 chairpersons:
Idaho Senate — key committees: https://legislature.idaho.gov/committees/senatecommittees/
- 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://legislature.idaho.gov/committees/housecommittees/
- 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
Idaho Voices for Children Legislative Update (weekly throughout the legislative session):
Every other Friday from January 16th to March 27th, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS? Click the button below to access a refresher on the Legislative Process (compliments of the Idaho Capital Sun)
National Level:
Housing experts predict that Federal funding and policy changes proposed by the current administration will significantly reduce access to affordable housing and supportive services that people across our nation need to overcome or prevent homelessness. The Homeless Coalition urges you to sign up for Action Alerts from the organizations listed below to stay up to date on fast-moving changes and to receive advocacy links and talking points.
Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
Do you want to learn more about advocacy? Check out IABN’s toolkit, An Affordable Home for Every Idahoan: A State and Federal Advocacy Toolkit