Legislative Update - 11/1/2022

On Sunday and Monday, October 23 and 24, 2022, TAHRA members met at the Hilton Cool Springs Hotel (Franklin, Tennessee) for the annual Strategic Planning meeting. The meeting is designed to plan the various activities, meetings, and training to help TAHRA meet its organizational goal to help prepare members in their effort to assist the residents that are served. TAHRA President Maria Catron (Oak Ridge) opened the meeting and started all the committees on their brainstorming and planning.

The Legislative committee planned for a 2023 "Day on the Hill" in Nashville, where we will meet and talk with our state representatives. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Day on the Hill was a mainstay for many TAHRA members.

The plan, as was done in the past, is for TAHRA to offer all legislators and staff that come by a chicken and biscuit, coffee, and a mug or tumbler with the TAHRA name on it. This has always been a big hit and well-received by the legislators and staff. Also planned are training sessions and legislative visits to present a position paper. Although many TAHRA members personally know their legislators, the legislators usually appreciated the members coming by and seeing them in their work environment.

The committee also discussed the 2023 NAHRO Washington Conference (Washington D.C., March 6-8, 2023), which will be in person after being virtual for the last few years. TAHRA wants to get a good contingency in Washington for training and scheduled visits with the Tennessee federal legislators.

Finally, advocacy continues to be the most effective method to get the word to decision-makers concerning ways to assist low-income residents and potential residents in their housing and related needs. Without the voice of TAHRA and similar organizations, residents that are served by housing authority programs would normally not get the help they need to improve and move forward.

Micheal A. Miller
Executive Director - Bolivar Housing Authority
TAHRA Legislative Committee Chairperson