The Washington Housing Finance Commission has agreed to send a letter to its peer agencies in each state asking that they examine their rules on the issue, and will report the results to the Children's Alliance. We'll share it with you, too, but in the meantime you can find out directly what your state's rules are. Check with the National Council of State Housing Agencies for information on how to contact the Housing Commission in your state. Once you find out how to reach your state's Housing Commission, ask whether their rules preclude foster parents from participating in housing assistance programs. Not only did they help to effect a change in the Commission's rule, but they motivated the Commission to perform outreach in the state to encourage other foster families to seek housing assistance.
Most states have similar organizations devoted to advocating for children's rights.
They maintain an Internet list of state and local child advocacy organizations. They also post other useful information, including how to go about starting your own child advocacy group if none is available. Watch this space for more information about this kind of advocacy on behalf of resource families. When new issues come to the attention of the group, it researches them thoroughly and tries to resolve them through direct contact with regulatory agencies involved. If so, the issue is appropriate for referral to public members.