Dear Colleagues,

Your religious/sacred voice is needed in Dover! Your experience helping people with rent, eviction cost is needed in Dover. The legislative season has begun, and you all are busy. And your voice and the voice of your congregants, are vital to demand that we look after all residents of Delaware not just those that have a better chance of succeeding.

I have a couple of updates to send you.

Hot Off the Press: Right to Representation, SB 1 will be heard in the Senate Housing Committee on March 15 at 1pm. This is the first of many steps of this bill’s journey to the Governor’s desk.

Here is the link to the SB 1:

Here is a link to the one Right to Representation 1-Pager

If you can come in person, you do not need to pre-register.   If you are going to testify via phone, please register ahead of time by going to this website Register for testimony over the phone only! you have any difficulty doing this, please let me know.

Either way plan to speak for no more than 2 minutes. Here is a brief outline of an effective testimony:

1. Begin by asking them to vote SB 1 out of the Senate Housing Committee.
2. Describe in no more than 1 paragraph how this legislation would have changed your life, the life of your congregants, the life of your clients. What ties you personally/professionally to this legislation. (this is the place for your personal story.)
3. If you are out of time than thank the legislators for their time and reiterate you want them to vote SB1 out of the Senate Housing Committee.
4. If you have more time remind them of some of the statistics found on the one pager (this is not required! Your story is more important—policy folk like me will emphasize this.)

A glimpse behind the curtain: We are hoping to share with you new legislation soon that will ensure the building of safe, and affordable housing. Stay tuned!

Attached is an important Save the Date! Mark your calendars. Day for Housing will be May 18^th in Dover in person! Please feel free to hang this flier up (or post it online) in your local community, wherever potential housing advocates might find it!

Day for Housing

Finally, the second session of the League of Women Voter’s series on the lack of safe and affordable housing in Delaware is on March 20. It is an important opportunity to listen to the voices of people with lived experience. Please come and share this with your friends as well.

If you have any questions, please be in touch.

Thank you in advance for all you do! It really does make a difference!!!

Blessings of Peace,

Sonya

Rabbi Sonya Starr

She/Her/Hers

Policy Director

Housing Alliance Delaware

(302)654-0126 ext. 103

Lived Experience Video Library | HAD Site (housingalliancede.org)