APARTMENT ADVOCATE
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
The Perfect Advocate is You in 2022
It ’ s More Important Than Ever To Build Relationships With Lawmakers – Here ’ s Why You Should .
At the start of the pandemic , associations around the country sent millions of communications to Congress in search of emergency funding to help their members . With trillions in relief funds distributed and the pandemic continuing through the beginning of 2022 , organizations have had to rewrite the playbook on how to effectively communicate with Congress – especially if they want their efforts to have any sort of impact on policy outcomes .
According to the Congressional Management Foundation ( CMF ), Congressional offices have seen constituent communications increase anywhere from 200 % to 1,000 % during the past decade , forcing Congressional staff to prioritize incoming messages . Ultimately , these adaptations have made the cultivation of constituent-lawmaker relationships one of the most important factors in policymaking .
It ’ s no secret that relationships are what drive legislative change in Washington . With the massive increase in communication , however , constituents that have relationships with their representative and their office can cut through the noise and make a direct impact . It ’ s no surprise , therefore , that many advocates nationwide are looking to build relationships from the ground up .
Cultivating Relationships
According to a CMF survey of senior Congressional staff , one of the best ways to build a better relationship with a Congressional office is to cultivate relationships with staff and to meet with their in-district offices . 79 % said that building a relationship with the Legislative Assistant was a great way to increase your profile in their office , while 59 % said that constituent meetings in-district were another way to form a connection – underscoring that you don ’ t have to be a D . C . insider to create change . The bottom line : attending in-district meetings and town halls , communicating with the office and building relationships with staff members cultivate a long-lasting relationship with your policymaker and ensure that you can cut through the noise .
As we look to deliver on our 2022 advocacy agenda , the National Apartment Association ( NAA ) continues to help our members build relationships with their Members of Congress . The Key Contact Program provides NAA members with that opportunity – and has made a tangible difference for the industry .
In the year ahead , key contacts will be expected to regularly reach out to their designated Congressional offices and meet with their Members of Congress at least twice per year . This kind of consistent activity will help our Key Contacts become well-known by their Congressional office as someone in the rental housing industry who can help guide them on housing policy as issues arise .
Other elements of NAA ’ s advocacy
program help industry professionals create meaningful relationships :
• The At Home Program enables advocates to meet with their Members of Congress in-district to discuss important issues .
• The Influencer Program aims to educate both lawmakers and the public on housing issues and how the industry has been affected by policies .
• The Letter to the Editor ( LTE ) Program gives members the opportunity to help write and submit LTEs to local publications to educate their community on the implications of proposed policy .
Relationships have always been what help drive policy change in Washington , but you don ’ t have to be a government affairs professional to form these relationships . According to a CMF survey of senior Congressional staff , 82 % said a visit from a lobbyist would be influential , but 97 % said that visits from constituents would be influential . You are your best advocate – and by making the efforts to form relationships with your lawmakers , you can cut through the noise and create long-lasting change for the industry . www . aamdhq . org MARCH 2022 TRENDS | 35