Final answer:
The most effective way for Jen to have local leaders consider her proposal to help the homeless is to present the idea at the next city council meeting. Support from economic evidence and personal stories can provide substance to her arguments, similar to authot Matthew Desmond's approach in his book. Additional advocacy through email and social media can also bolster her cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Jen wants local leaders to consider her proposal to help address the issue of increasing rents and evictions leading to a rise in homelessness in her city, the most effective course of action would be to present the idea at the next city council meeting. City council meetings are public forums where constituents can bring their concerns directly to elected officials who have the power to enact local policies. By doing this, Jen has the opportunity to share her ideas and appeal to those who have the authority to make changes. Furthermore, she could support her proposal with strong evidence and statistics, similar to how Matthew Desmond uses economic evidence and personal stories in Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City to persuade readers and policymakers about the stark realities of housing insecurity. Jen may also consider other forms of advocacy, such as social media engagement to raise public awareness or contacting political representatives via email. However, these methods might not have the immediate local impact that directly speaking to city council members can achieve. To reach a wider audience, including the governor, after initially presenting to the city council might help in pushing the issue further up the legislative agenda. In any case, the key is to bring the proposal to those who can act on it directly and to back it up with compelling evidence and narratives that underscore the severity of the housing crisis.