POLICY MEMO 1 Please note: The assignment must be written in memo format; not es

POLICY MEMO 1
Please note: The assignment must be written in memo format; not essay format. Also, you only need to select one of the following scenarios to write the memo over. Lastly these scenarios are covering Latinx Public policy and should be treated with an open and problem-solving mindset.
Policy memos are a common tool used by institutions, organizations, and agencies to gather
relevant information on a specific policy or policy area, identify options towards possible courses
of action, and provide a recommendation on which option you believe should be chosen. Policy
memos are a genre of writing that asks you to develop several skills: 1) clear and concise writing,
2) research and identify relevant information/data, 3) process and analyze all of the information
gathered, and 4) make a well-reasoned, evidence-based recommendation. Being able to write
clear, accurate, and compelling policy memos is a skill set that can serve you well as you pursue
your professional goals and aspirations.
Therefore, in this assignment, please write a policy memo on one of the four scenarios below.
You will need to conduct research for information outside of what was provided to you in
lectures and the assigned readings to answer these scenarios. All sources of information you use
to write your policy memo—lectures, assigned reading, reports, factsheets, books, news articles,
etc.—must be cited; all citations should be made using footnotes. Information you use outside of
the materials I provide to you directly, must be from reputable sources (e.g. academic journals
and books, anthologies, textbooks, reports or policy briefs from think tanks and government
agencies, newspaper articles, etc.). Please feel free to take any position you wish, so long as your
position is well reasoned and supported by evidence.
Formatting requirements:
• less than 8% AI generated/plagiarized material
• 12 pt., Times New Roman font
• Single-spaced
• 1-inch margins
• LALS 30103: 3-pages maximum; LALS 40003: 4-pages maximum
• The source(s) of all facts provided must be appropriately cited; all citations should be in
APA format and placed in footnotes. The footnotes should be in 9 pt., Times New Roman
font.
• The memo should contain appropriate headings (e.g. To:, From:, Re:, Date:, etc.)
• No graphs or tables should be used.
• Include page numbers
Scenario 1
You are a congressional staffer serving in the Office of Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who represents
New York’s 13th congressional district. Rep. Espaillat sits on the U.S. House Committee on
Appropriations, but more importantly serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. His subcommittee is
responsible for the funding provided to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD). The subcommittee is considering a measure that would reduce current funding levels
50% to HUD’s Fair Housing Assistant Program (FHAP) or Fair Housing Initiatives Program
(FHIP), a significant cut. The Republican Majority has already said a cut will happen; it is just a
question to which program. Rep. Espaillat is tasking you with providing a memo outlining which
program you believe he should attempt to protect from a budget cut. He is especially concerned
with this decision because his district offices in New York have seen an increase in anecdotal
reports of housing discrimination, especially from naturalized citizens and permanent residents in
his area. Rep. Espaillat is asking you to address the following questions in your memo: What are
the primary differences between the programs? What presence does FHAP or FHIP currently
have in the 13th district? Does one program have greater success, overall, in reducing housing
discrimination? Is one program better at addressing the fair housing needs/complaints of
immigrants, whether naturalized, documented, or undocumented? Which program could receive
a budgetary cut and would have the least negative impact on fair housing enforcement in the U.S.
and in the 13th district?
Scenario 2
You are the Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy at UnidosUS, the largest Latinx civil
rights organization in the country. Janet Murguía, UnidosUS’s President, has received
information that Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chair of the U.S. Senate’s Appropriations
Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, is
planning to introduce a bill that increases Department of Housing & Urban Development
spending on affordable housing by $5 billion. Senator Schatz is seeking input from stakeholders
(including UnidosUS) on where to direct the increased funding—to public housing, Section 8
vouchers, or Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). The funding can go all to one of the
programs or to divide it amongst two or three of the programs. Murguía is asking you to write a
memo that explains what UnidosUS’ overall position should be on the bill and what should be
done with the $5 billion. You are to provide the evidence and reasoning for your analysis, along
with 3-4 talking points Murguía can use with Senator Schatz, his staff, other senators on the
subcommittee, and media contacts on how and why the additional funding should be used. Your
memo should consider the following questions: How successfully is the current mix of
affordable housing programs serving low-income people and families, especially Latinx
communities? Does a specific affordable housing strategy—public housing, Section 8 vouchers,
or LIHTC credits—prove to be more effective than the others in addressing poor Latinxs’
housing needs? Is the planned $5 billion dollar increase too much, too little, or just enough to
significantly address Latinx affordable housing needs? Besides this proposed increase in funding,
are there any other policy changes to these affordable housing programs UnidosUS should
advocate for that would increase their effectiveness for poor people, especially poor Latinxs?
Scenario 3
You are a senior policy analyst for the Latino Policy Forum (LPF), a Latinx advocacy
organization based in Chicago, IL. LPF is a member of a statewide civil rights coalition that is
seeking to address housing disparities and inequalities in Illinois, especially in the Chicago metro
area. The coalition members are arguing internally about whether their campaign should focus on
affordable housing or homelessness. There is consensus that the current policy environment in
the state will not allow for major victories in both areas, so a decision regarding where the
coalition should focus its political capital and efforts. The difficulty for LPF is that affordable
housing and homelessness are major areas of focus for the organization. Sylvia Puente, LPF’s
President and CEO, must cast a vote for one or the other in the coalition’s next meeting. She has
tasked you with providing an up-to-date analysis of Latinx affordable housing and homelessness
concerns in Illinois and a recommendation for what issue LPF should push for as the campaign’s
focus. Your memo should consider the following questions: How has the lack of affordable
housing affected Latinx communities in Illinois? How large is the problem of homelessness in
Latinx communities in Illinois? What is preventing Latinxs in Illinois from securing affordable
housing? What are the major causes of homelessness for Latinxs in Illinois? Have there been any
recent policy successes or setbacks in the areas of affordable housing and homelessness in
Illinois? Should LPF pursue affordable housing or homelessness at this time? What talking
points should Sylvia Puente use to convince coalition members to side with LPF’s position and
analysis?