One Giant LEAP for Humankind: Leap into Action at the Coalition's Legislative Action Day!
Posted by kathleen@mahomeless.org
on Friday, 17 February 2012
in Advocacy
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The Coalition's Legislative Action Day is on Leap Day this year, so get ready to Leap into Action to End Homelessness with us on February 29th at the State House!
Legislative Action Day is a chance to mobilize our members and supporters around a number of legislative and budget priorities intended to prevent and end homelessness. This year, our priorities include: maintaining access to Emergency Assistance; continuing funding for HomeBASE; increasing funding to programs such as RAFT and MRVP; passing House Bill 3838, An Act Providing Housing and Support Services to Unaccompanied Homeless Youth; and supporting House 2553/Senate 1416, An Act To Invest In Our Communities.
If each resident of Massahusetts could encourage their legislators to support each priority, just imagine the social and economic improvements that could serve as “one giant leap for (hu)mankind.” Here are just a few reasons to support the priorities, but check out our fact sheets on our web page to learn more!
Legislative Action Day is a chance to mobilize our members and supporters around a number of legislative and budget priorities intended to prevent and end homelessness. This year, our priorities include: maintaining access to Emergency Assistance; continuing funding for HomeBASE; increasing funding to programs such as RAFT and MRVP; passing House Bill 3838, An Act Providing Housing and Support Services to Unaccompanied Homeless Youth; and supporting House 2553/Senate 1416, An Act To Invest In Our Communities.
If each resident of Massahusetts could encourage their legislators to support each priority, just imagine the social and economic improvements that could serve as “one giant leap for (hu)mankind.” Here are just a few reasons to support the priorities, but check out our fact sheets on our web page to learn more!
- The rates of families and individuals experiencing homelessness are at an all-time high in Massachusetts: on any given night, 2.6% of Massachusetts residents are experiencing homelessness and in 2010, at least 22,569 children experienced homelessness.
- The economic downturn, combined with the greater need for services, has further strained the state’s already cash-strapped programs that provide housing supports and services to people in need.
- Less than half of the families that applied for shelter and services in 2011 were actually approved.
- While state programs have helped those who need assistance (for example, the HomeBASE program placed about 4,100 families into shelter or short-term housing between July and November 2011), these programs and services simply cannot meet the increasing demand without additional funding.
Tags: Advocacy