Most Americans believe affordable housing should be an election issue -- right up there with war, global warming and health care -- and a coalition of real estate industry groups have formed "Housing America 2007" to make is so -- with you as a participant.

Nine out of ten Americans cite affordable housing as a high priority, and more than half believe the government's affordable housing policies are on the wrong track, according to a new Zogby America poll.

The poll was commissioned by a coalition headed by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Coalition members include the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors among a host of others.

Packed with a "Housing America 2007 Toolkit" of ideas to get you marching for affordable housing, shoulder-to-shoulder with those against the Iraq War, global warming and health care woes, the survey of 1,205 adults found:

• Ninety percent put affordable housing as either a top priority or high priority in their lives.

• Fifty one percent said the nation's direction on affordable housing is on the wrong track.

• Sixty nine percent said they would be likely to vote for a presidential candidate who has a detailed plan for affordable housing.

The poll generally doesn't specifically compare affordable housing with other hot issues, but it does reveal that a large percentage of people see housing a worthy issue. There is just as much, if not more, concern about housing as there is about other pressing issues that typically get the most air time during election time.

For example, recent CBS polls show:

• Only 39 percent of Americans now say taking military action against Iraq was the right thing to do, the lowest number ever, while 55 percent say the U.S. should have stayed out. In another poll 63 percent disapprove of the plan to send more troops to Iraq.

• A majority, 70 percent of American adults think global warming is an environmental problem having a serious impact.

• Nine out of 10 say the nation's health insurance system needs at least fundamental changes, including 36 percent who favor a complete overhaul. Sixty-four percent say there should be government health insurance available for all Americans.

To help get the candidates to focus, like a laser beam, on the issue of affordable housing, the coalition's toolkit is aimed at efforts already-informed real estate groups can take, but it also gives individuals the opportunity for some grassroots nitty gritty.

What can you do to lobby for a more cohesive affordable housing policy?

The toolkit, which comes with informational resources to get you started, suggests, among other ideas:

• Meet with your legislators or staff during their spring break (April 4-9) and talk affordable housing.

• Call your representative's scheduler in their local office and ask for sit-down time. If you are part of an affordable housing event or group meeting, have the details handy to present to your legislator.

• Attend the same town hall meetings your legislators attend. Legislators typically announce plans to make appearances. Host a town hall meeting and invite legislators, the media and get local cable access to broadcast the event.

• Call or write your legislators in Washington, D.C. and let them know about affordable housing needs in your community.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.

• Be a talk radio guest on a local call in show or community affairs program.

• Visit schools, local colleges and universities to educate young people or college students about the importance of housing for all.

• Sponsor an essay contest, "What My Home Means To Me" and invite families, kids and seniors to participate. Send essays to members of Congress and ask that they be entered into the congressional record or read in after-hours speeches.

• Invite the editorial board of your local paper to a meeting at an affordable housing community.

Published: March 27, 2007

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.