Scheduling Your Capitol Hill Appointments
Meeting with your lawmakers is a meaningful opportunity to share the real stories behind homelessness in your community and help policymakers better understand the impact of life-transformation ministries. These conversations put faces and experiences behind the data, advocate for compassionate and effective solutions, and ensure your voice is represented in national discussions.
This year, the window for congressional appointments is limited to before 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 due to a special HUD meeting that our entire group will be attending. We hope this condensed timeframe helps streamline scheduling and reduces the overall time required to secure meetings. You are also welcome to stay over on Wednesday evening and schedule any additional appointments for Thursday after the DC Forum has concluded.
To support you in these conversations, Citygate Network will provide a state-specific handout with key statistics and impact data, along with talking points addressed at the event—so you will not be walking into these meetings unprepared.
In addition, Citygate Network hosted a how-to webinar to walk through the scheduling process step by step. See section below for the recording and presentation.
- Step 1: Identify Your Members of Congress
- Visit Senate.gov and click “Find My Senator” (top-left of the page).
- Visit House.gov and enter your ZIP code (top-right of the page).
- Step 2: Submit a Meeting Request
- Complete the online request form to schedule a meeting at the member’s Washington, D.C. office.
- Step 3: Confirm Receipt
- Follow up with a phone call to the office a few days later to confirm the request was received.
- Ask for the name and email address of the scheduler.
- Step 4: Contact the Scheduler
- Email the scheduler to formally request an appointment with the Senator/Congressman or an appropriate staff member.
- Step 5: Follow Up
- If you have not received a response, follow up with a phone call one week later.
Ask to speak directly with the scheduler and attempt to confirm the meeting by phone.
- If you have not received a response, follow up with a phone call one week later.
- Step 6: Log Your Meeting
- Once your appointment is confirmed, add the meeting details to the master Google Doc.
- This step is essential to prevent overlapping meetings with Senate or House offices.
*Capitol Hill Meetings: You’ll meet with lawmakers and/or their staff in Senate and House office buildings. In most cases, you will meet with staff members (e.g., legislative directors, legislative assistants, etc.) who have the job of clearly articulating both your thanks and concerns to the elected representative for whom they work.
On Wednesday, proceed directly to the location of your first meeting. Citygate Network staff will be available to assist you and accompany you as requested throughout the day. Appointments should be completed by 1:15 p.m. to allow time to get to the HUD meeting at 2:00 p.m.
At the conclusion of the HUD meeting at 4:00 p.m., you’re welcome to head home—or stay a bit longer and enjoy the sights and energy of Washington, D.C. We encourage you to connect with others in our group and consider gathering for dinner if your schedule allows. You’re also welcome to schedule additional meetings on Thursday morning, should your calendar permit.
When you get home, text or email the outcomes of your Capitol Hill meetings to the Citygate Network staff. Contact info will be given at the event.
How to Make Appointments on Capitol Hill
To help attendees prepare for DC Forum, we hosted a training call with our government relations team. They shared practical guidance on engaging in policy conversations, navigating Capitol Hill, and advocating effectively on behalf of your ministry.
Watch the video here, and click the button to download the presentation.
