Practical Guide for Elevating Infant and Toddler Homelessness and Housing Instability in Federal, State and Local Election
Every baby needs a safe place to live, grow, and thrive. But too many infants and toddlers experience homelessness or housing instability during the most important years of development — often in ways not immediately visible to policymakers, like staying in motels, doubling up with other people, sleeping on couches, or moving from place to place.
Election season is a powerful moment to change that.
Candidates are listening to voters, defining priorities, and shaping their official policy agendas. Organizations that work on housing, homelessness, early childhood, health, and family support systems can use this moment to educate candidates, engage communities, and elevate solutions that ensure families stay housed and supported.
This toolkit offers practical, nonpartisan ways to:
- Elevate infant and toddler homelessness as an election-year issue.
- Ask candidates clear, nonpartisan, policy-based questions.
- Mobilize partners and community voices.
- Build relationships with current and future elected officials.
You do not need to use every tactic. Choose the goal, strategy, and actions
that fit your capacity, relationships, and state or local context.