FY2027 Appropriations Advocacy Activation Toolkit 

As housing costs continue to outpace wages, communities are being asked to do more with fewer resources. Right now, Congress is deciding how much funding key federal programs will receive through the FY2027 appropriations process. 

Federal funding is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent and end homelessness. They support programs that provide rental assistance, emergency shelter, and supportive services, which are lifelines for our most vulnerable neighbors. 

This year, your voice is especially critical.

Advocacy is how we ensure these fundings are prioritized by Congress and are a part-and-parcel of the federal government. We need to ensure that policymakers are informed about the impact their decisions will have on communities in their districts and states. 

Whether you are new to advocacy or have years of experience, this toolkit is designed to help you take meaningful action like meeting with your lawmakers, sharing your lived experience, organizing a site visit, engaging the media, and mobilizing others in your community. 

We know how to end homelessness. And right now, Congress needs to hear from you.

What’s required is the political and public will to act, and advocacy is how we create it. This toolkit provides you with the tools to advocate to your Member(s) of Congress and show them that vital programs and their funding must remain intact.

Thank you for your partnership!

— Tamina Chowdhury, Ph.D.
Director of Advocacy and Campaign Strategy
National Alliance to End Homelessness

Each year, appropriations committees in the House and Senate determine funding for all discretionary programs (e.g. non-mandatory spending programs, such as food assistance). The House and Senate Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD) subcommittees determine the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) annual budget, including funding for the homeless assistance grants program.    

Background on last year’s FY2026 Appropriations: In FY2026, advocacy prevailed and the final spending bill for THUD programs provided $77.3 billion for HUD programs in FY26. This amount is more than a $7.2 billion increase over the previous fiscal year, significantly higher than what both the House and Senate proposed in their spending bills introduced last year. Furthermore, Congress included hard-fought languageto ensure homelessness programs receive funding in a timely and predictable manner. 

It cannot be overstated how significant it is that Congress—in both chambers and across party lines—prioritized the inclusion of provisions to protect federal homelessness program funding against very real threats from the administration. This did not happen by accident. It is a testament to the thousands of people who elevated the concerns related to HUD’s handling of FY2025 CoC Program funding. 

• President’s Proposal: In early April, the Administration released a budget proposal that seeks to codify the harmful approaches to homelessness laid out in the Executive Order, Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets. This order reduces or eliminates programs that make up the nation’s already scant social safety net. Most significantly, the President’s budget proposal eliminates the Continuum of Care Program: instead, the proposed budget would fold all homeless assistance funding into a greatly expanded and modified Emergency Solutions Grant Program for a total request of $4.42 billion, a $400 million overall reduction from FY2026. 
  
  Learn more: What the President’s Budget Proposes for Homelessness in FY27

• House Proposal: On May 20, the House proposed a budget that underfunds critical programs that keep people stably housed.  Although the House’s proposal largely ignores the President’s disastrous budget proposal, it fails to meet the urgent funding needs of this moment. 

• Senate Proposal: We are waiting for a proposal put forth by the Senate appropriations committee. Last year, the Senate also largely rejected the President’s budget, and provided more funding than the House, but still at insufficient levels.

Congress holds the power of the purse. We need your advocacy today to ensure both the House and Senate prioritize sufficient funding for homelessness programs in their budget proposals to ensure resources reach communities.

Your voice is especially critical. These Members directly decide on funding levels for homelessness and housing programs. Here’s what you can do:

• Prioritize outreach – email, call, and request meetings 
• Request in-district meetings specifically focused on appropriations 
• Invite them (or their staff) to site visits 
• Provide local data and real-world examples they can use in negotiations 
• Follow up consistently throughout the appropriations process 

If your member is NOT on a THUD Subcommittee, your advocacy still matters. Members influence leadership and vote on final funding bills. You can:

• Urge them to communicate your priorities to appropriators
• Ask them to sign “Dear Colleague” letters supporting funding
• Build public and local pressure through media and coalition efforts

Send a pre-drafted message in minutes customized with your voice and your community’s needs. 

Template Includes:  

• Clear, specific funding requests for homelessness and housing programs 

• Localized impact language you can tailor to your state or district 

• Space to add your personal or organizational perspective 

How to Make It Stronger: 

• Add 1–2 sentences about what you’re seeing locally 

• Mention your role (service provider, advocate, business leader, etc.) 

• Keep it concise—staff read hundreds of emails daily 

Tip: Personal stories significantly increase the likelihood of your message being read and remembered. 

A quick, high-impact way to make your voice heard. Congressional offices track every call. 

Short 30 Seconds Version: 

“Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a constituent from [City]. I’m calling to urge [Member Name] to support strong FY2027 funding for homelessness and housing programs. These investments are critical for our community. Thank you.” 

Expanded Version: 

• Add one sentence about local need (“We’ve seen a rise in older adults experiencing homelessness…”) 

• Reference a program (e.g., Continuum of Care, Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 202) 

• End with a clear ask (“Please support the highest possible funding levels.”) 

Tip: Ask to speak with the staffer who handles housing or appropriations. 

Follow These Steps to Set Up a Meeting: 

• Request a meeting (2–3 weeks in advance when possible) 

• Prepare your message (align with national asks + local data) 

• Share local impact (stories + numbers) 

• Make a clear ask 
• Follow up with a thank you email and resources  
  

You don’t need to come to Washington, DC to have influence. In-district advocacy is often where relationships are built and decisions are shaped. 

Ways to Engage:  

• Meet staff in local offices 

• Host site visits 

• Attend town halls 

• Build long-term relationships 

Tip: District staff are key influencers – invest in those relationships. 

Here are advocacy resources to get you started. 

Social media is a powerful tool in your advocacy toolkit. It’s free, widely accessible, and with enough voices, it applies serious pressure to your elected officials. Use the following sample messages to craft your own posts or copy them directly. 

Most importantly, remember to @Tag your elected officials when you post, use the hashtag #fundhomelessnesssolutions, and share the link to this advocacy toolkit with your followers. 

LinkedIn 
[@MY REPRESENTATIVE] right now, the President’s proposed FY2027 budget would eliminate the Continuum of Care Program entirely, cutting $400 million from homeless assistance overall and directly impact support our neighbors rely on. 

Here’s what’s at stake in our district: 
→ Rental assistance for tens of thousands of households 
→ Emergency shelter and supportive services 
→ Housing stability for older adults, families, and domestic violence survivors 

We know how to end homelessness. What we need is representatives who will defend their communities. #fundhomelessnesssolutions 

Facebook 
[@MY REPRESENTATIVE], Congress is making decisions that will directly affect our neighbors; people who rely on federal programs for a safe place to sleep, for rental assistance, for a path out of homelessness. 

The President’s FY2027 budget proposes eliminating critical sources of funding that communities like ours depend on. #fundhomelessnesssolutions 

Instagram 
[@MY REPRESENTATIVE] we know how to end homelessness. What we need is the funding to do it. 

The President’s proposed budget would eliminate the Continuum of Care program, a critical lifeline for our most vulnerable neighbors. 

We’re asking Congress to fund homeless assistance at $5.1 billion. Defend your community by defending this critical funding. #fundhomelessnesssolutions 

Twitter/X 
[@MY REPRESENTATIVE] Congress is deciding right now how much funding communities like [INSERT TOWN NAME] will have to prevent homelessness in FY2027. We need you to safeguard lifesaving programs that our neighbors depend on. #fundhomelessnesssolutions  

We are more powerful when we work together. Scale your impact by: 

• Mobilizing partners 

• Running local and statewide campaigns 

• Coordinating messaging with others 

New to advocacy? Here are resources to help you get started: