Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
www.acorn.org
(206) 723-5845
“Since 1970, ACORN has been building community organizations that are committed to social and economic justice, and won victories on thousands of issues of concern to our members, through direct action, negotiation, legislative advocacy and voter participation.”
The members of ACORN take on issues of relevance to their communities, whether those issues are discrimination, affordable housing, a quality education, or better public services. ACORN is involved in community organization, issue campaigns, ballot initiatives, voter participation, and provide services to low-income families.

Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
www.wliha.org
(206) 442-9455
“Everyone in Washington State lives in a safe, decent, supportive, and affordable home.”
WLIHA sponsors an annual Housing Advocacy Day in Olympia.

National Fair Housing Advocate Online
www.fairhousing.com
“The National Fair Housing Advocate Online is a resource designed to serve both the fair housing advocacy community and the general public with timely news and information regarding the issues of housing discrimination.”
Includes news on statutes, regulations, housing discrimination, HUD resources, and case databases.

Housing Development Consortium
www.housingconsortium.org
(206) 682-9541
“Housing Development Consortium (HDC) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting and facilitating the visibility, quality, sustainability and effectiveness of affordable housing by its nonprofit members, primarily throughout Seattle and King County.”
Offers members technical and policy expertise, public awareness and education programs, media relations assistance, and sponsors events that raise the profile of affordable housing.

Tenants Union of Washington State
www.tenantsunion.org
(206) 722-6848
“Our work creates concrete improvements in tenants’ living conditions and challenges and transforms unjust housing policies and practices. We achieve organizing victories through outreach, training, leadership development, strategic analysis, creative direct action and legislative advocacy.”

Hopelink
www.hope-link.org
(425) 869-6000
“Hopelink's mission is to promote self-sufficiency for all members of our community; we help people make lasting change.”
Hopelink organizes volunteer work in the community, focusing on low-income families.

Alliance to Prevent Predatory Lending (APPL)
www.noloansharks.org
(206) 300-0222
“The APPL coalition exists in order to endorse the passage of fair and reasonable consumer protections on predatory lending that will reduce poverty and create safer and stronger communities in Washington State”
APPL focuses on collecting personal stories of predatory lending in order to raise awareness and force lawmakers to take notice. The organization also encourages staffing an information table, recruiting friends to write letters, reaching out to predatory loan consumers, and making a presentation, and is looking for people to help write informational materials, reports, op-eds, and letters to the editor.

The National Consumers League
www.nclnet.org
(202) 835-3323 (Washington DC)
“NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer's perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information.”

Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
(202) 588-1000 (Washington DC)
“We fight for openness and democratic accountability in government, for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.”
Public Citizen seeks support through making donations, signing petitions, and contacting representatives.

Consumers Union
www.consumersununion.org
(415) 431-6747 (West Coast Office)
“Consumers Union (CU) is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.”
Consumers Union publishes the Consumer Reports Magazine (consumerreports.org), and works with online activists.

Americans for Fairness in Lending – Legislative Action Center
http://capwiz.com/affil/issues/
“Americans for Fairness in Lending is working to reform the lending industry to protect Americans' financial assets.”
Provides prewritten emails and letters to contact your representatives regarding current lending legislature, including “gotcha” bank fees, the Payday Lender Protection Act, consumer protection, and predatory refund anticipation loans.

Tips on Writing Your Representative

Writing a letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office, though since the anthrax scare email is a much more efficient way to reach your representative. If you decide to write your representative, this list of helpful suggestions will improve your effectiveness:

• Think locally. It is most effective to write your state legislators, the representative from your local congressional district, or your state senator.
• Introduce yourself, and list some of your credentials for writing.
• Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
• Be respectful, courteous, and to the point. Be factual, not emotional.
• Include specific rather than general information, using examples to support your position.
• Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page. Remember that policymakers and their staff do not have a lot of time.
• Close by requesting the action that you would like to see taken.

Addressing Correspondence

To a Senator:

The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

To a Representative:

The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:

Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:
Dear Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker:

Find your elected officials at www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?lvl=L
Remember, if you do not have time to write, you can give your representative a call!

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