Policy Design
Policy Design
HJC has extensive experience designing policy frameworks that advance national, state, and local priorities.
We use community engagement and stakeholder-driven approaches to shape policy recommendations, strengthen narratives, and build buy-in across diverse audiences.
Our work supports communities and organizations in developing policies that are actionable, equitable, and responsive to real-world needs.
Client:
Project:
Community Engagement &
Rental Assistance Policy Framework Design
Services:
Facilitation | Policy Design | Strategy
Description:
HJC is supporting the design of a state rental assistance policy & strategy built in the interests of all Californians, that can be won in the state legislature, and push future governor priorities.
The activities within the scope of this project include: complete landscape assessment; facilitation of a series of regional and statewide stakeholder engagement sessions; a framework for action and shared narrative to connect with future legislative opportunities.
Client:
Project:
Capacity Building & Coalition Strategy for Housing Justice
Services:
Coaching | Facilitation | Policy Design
Description:
The National Coalition for Housing Justice engaged HJC to help secure alignment among national homeless organizations in pursuit of a vision for housing justice that can withstand the current political environment and push for transformative housing platforms.
We helped create a structure for the coalition to build capacity and supported the transition to a more representative steering committee to make decisions about coalition strategy.
Our team also supports at-large members of the coalition with participation and empowerment.
Client:
Project:
Organizational Strategy & Development, Program
Building & Resourcing Support
Services:
Coaching | Facilitation | Policy Design | Strategy | Tool & Resource Design
Description:
HJC has worked alongside a team of young people with lived expertise, community partners, and funders for over three years to develop the youth-led intermediary called the
LA Emissary. Employing the full spectrum of HJC service offerings, we support LA Emissary’s advocacy and skill building initiatives, and collaborate to create the programs and structure to implement their theory of change and affect system transformation to better serve unhoused young people.
LA Emissary focus areas are Local Organizing & Training through the formation of the 8 regional teams of young people hosted by non-profits in every region of Los Angeles County, County-wide System Change Efforts to End Youth Homelessness through the Cross Systems Leadership Table, and Youth-led Grantmaking through the Youth and Young Adult Pooled Fund, a philanthropic pooled fund that has granted over $6 million dollars in LA County to housing and services and youth leadership programs.
LA Emissary has become a well-oiled machine with the support of Housing Justice Collective. They’ve opened doors we were ready to run through and equipped us with skills across facilitation, mediation, and grant management.
More than that, they listen, they care, and they prioritize our intentions. HJC has truly been the frame that holds our picture together.
La’Toya Cooper, LA Emissary
Client:
Project:
Housing Justice for Young People Under the Age of 18
Services:
Facilitation | Policy Design | Tool & Resource Design
Description:
HJC worked with stakeholders in Washington State for over three years to develop system and policy recommendations to address the housing and legal rights of young people under 18 experiencing homelessness. The original project engaged young people who had been served by a new intervention called Youth Engagement Teams (YET), as well as youth action boards in two counties and one that was statewide. This work led to the “Building a Better Future for Minors Experiencing a Housing Crisis in Washington State” report.
Following the report the Washington State legislature passed two bills offering limited legal protections and housing / services funding for young people under 18. HJC partnered with the state agency to engage young people in making implementation recommendations.
In early 2024 we worked with three youth consultants in Washington State to design and implement a system modeling workshop that can estimate the amount and types of housing and services needed to ensure all young people under 18 have access to what they need, resulting in the “Modeling for Housing Stability for Youth Under 18 in Washington State” report for the state’s Office of Homeless Youth. Our ongoing partners in the work have been Mockingbird Society and Legal Counsel for Youth and Children.