"How can I advance this cause in my area?"

It is fairly simple! To advance this cause in your area, first review our list of contact people. If we don't have a group yet in your city or state, you can contact the National Coalition for the Homeless for the name of a representative in your area. Go to www.nationalhomeless.org, or call (202) 737-6444. Then, check and see if individuals or organizations are already working on a local living wage issue in your area/city/state.
Present the Universal Living Wage concept. Show them the web site. Once you find a lead person/organization, they or you can simply send out the Public Service Announcement tailored to your town. This will bring interested people forward from your area. The main office for the Universal Living Wage Campaign will then provide the names of the responding individuals to the local lead person/organizations.

Once you have fully familiarized yourself with the mechanics of the formula, you will be able to launch a letter writing campaign with just a handful of people. Direct your campaign to your National Congressional leaders, using our talking point bullets and "design your own letter" bullets. You can also begin face to face delegate meetings with Congressional Leaders. Hopefully there will soon be a legislative bill to support and rally around.

If you haven't identified an organization--that's okay. Two people can do this. Remember, you are already part of a national movement. If you have not done so already, start holding meetings with others in your group. Invite obstructionists and "nay sayers" to leave. They are welcome to initiate their own movement. This campaign is designed for the single purpose of raising standards and indexing the Federal minimum wage to the local cost of housing throughout America.

This is a volunteer initiative.
Thank you.
 
Note: there are other ways to promote interest in this area.

Advance this cause!

Useful links: A link to National Coalition for the Homeless, ACORN and other activist groups.

An especially useful link is The 2001 Directory of National, Statewide and Local Homeless Advocacy Organizations.
Public Service Announcement: Form announcement that will be tailored by each city/area using it to introduce the ULW in their area.
National Congressional Leaders: Write your senators and representative about your concerns! You will find your senators' Washington DC addresses and e-mail addresses at this http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm link. They will be listed by state. To reach your representative, go to http://www.house.gov/house/writerep/ and enter your zip code. You will be given your representative's address in Washington, DC. The second link also contains senator information, should the state listing not respond.

Letter Writing: Not sure what to say to your senators or representative? Here's a sample letter to give you a few ideas. You can use our letter and put in your own rep's name and district, or design your own letter using some of the suggestions below:

  • Identify yourself by district, county or city
  • Identify the issue as the Universal Living Wage. . ." I would like for you to support the idea of the Universal Living Wage"
  • The Universal Living Wage formula fixes the federal minimum wage and turns the clock back to a time when a hard working 40 hour a week minimum wage worker could afford housing
  • The Universal Living Wage formula uses existing government guidelines
  • Because the Universal Living Wage formula uses the Fair Markets Rents, wages could routinely be adjusted for inflation. . . Congress would stop having to address this problem over and over again and move on to other pressing issues
  • Point out that one flat/ fixed wage rate won’t help minimum wage workers in Santa Cruz, CA or Washington D.C. without hurting small businesses in Harlingen, TX or Macon, GA
  • The Universal Living Wage is related to the local cost of housing throughout the U.S.
  • The Universal Living Wage will prevent all minimum wage workers from becoming homeless.
  • The Universal Living Wage formula will enable 1/3 of the nation’s homeless to work themselves off of America’s streets
  • The Universal Living Wage Formula will stimulate local construction industries across America.
  • Makes housing available at the low financial end
  • Invite them to view the web site @ www.UniversalLivingWage.org
  • Thank them for their time and interest and ask them to support the bill and to carry it in the House or Senate respectively
E-mail: For the Universal Living Wage Campaign.
Financial Contribution: donate by check or credit card to this cause.
Talking Point Bullets: Key points supporting the use of the ULW formula.
Other Ways: Other ways to promote this idea. In Austin, Texas we tied the idea to Tax Day and held rallies at the post offices, over major thoroughfares displaying our banners, yard signs, bumper stickers, newspaper stories, radio skits, person/organization.

 

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by Universal Living Wage
PO Box 2312, Austin, TX 78768. All rights reserved.

This page last updated July 26, 2006. Thank you for visiting