What steps should a person experiencing homelessness take to participate in a town hall meeting and advocate for new hou

How to Attend a Town Hall and Advocate for New Housing

You have a legal right to be there

• In many places, open meeting laws say that public body meetings (like town halls, board of selectmen meetings, or city council committees) must be open to the public [2][4].
• You do not need a permanent address to attend. Typically, no one checks identification or residency at the door [10].

Your voice can make a difference

• When several people raise homelessness at town halls, elected officials pay more attention to the issue [1].
• Most town halls include a question-and-answer session after the official’s speech [9]. That is your chance to speak up about the need for new housing.

Learn the local testimony rules

• Verbal testimony slots are often limited, so you may need to register early. In one city, registration closes after the first five speakers [12].
• Speeches are usually timed — for example, you might get only 3 minutes, so prepare a focused message [11].
• If you cannot speak aloud, you can submit written testimony as an alternative [13].
• Many meetings are now “hybrid,” allowing you to participate remotely by video or phone [14]. If you have questions about how to join, you can reach out to the meeting organizer (for one committee, the contact is [email protected]) [15].

Connect with a housing advocacy group

• Beyond town halls, you can join regular advocacy meetings designed for people with lived experience of homelessness.
• The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless runs monthly Housing and Benefits Committee meetings over Zoom, where you can discuss policy and learn about new resources [5]. You can sign up online [6] and even join a mailing list to get meeting materials and advocacy alerts [8].
• Because these meetings are online, you don’t need transportation — just an internet connection [7].

These steps are based on real‑world examples from different communities, so details may vary. But the core message is the same: you belong in these spaces, and your story can push for the housing your community needs.