With a multitude of industries and special interest groups vying for a piece of the $800 billion economic stimulus bill, the National Association of Homebuilders needed to make the case for a home buyers tax credit that would offer concrete incentives to prospective homebuyers and bolster the plummeting housing market.
Client:
Fix Housing First
Practices:
Trade Associations/Coalitions
Expertise:
Government Relations
Our Work
Rasky Baerlein designed and deployed a national grassroots outreach campaign designed to educate and engage individuals at the state level and recruit members to the Fix Housing First coalition. Rasky Baerlein acquired hundreds of signed endorsements from business owners and organizations, and over 50 from state elected officials.
Working in partnership with a variety of federal lobbyists, advertising, and media communications executives, Rasky Baerlein honed and then communicated a set of consistent messages and assembled a cadre of congressional members who made support for housing tax credits and mortgage relief a top priority.
The stimulus bill that ultimately emerged included an $8,000 credit for purchases made during the first nine months of 2009. Unlike most federal housing programs, the stimulus legislation didn’t limit participation based on income limits or property location. The National Association of Homebuilders received consistent mention in the press and the tax credits and mortgage rate buydowns were often a topic of debate among industry experts and political pundits. Fix Housing First organizers received praise for building a sturdy, effective coalition that can be deployed in future campaigns.
