For Immediate Release
Join Catholic Charities to urge State Representatives to support amendments to emergency assistance
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program
RAFT, Line Item 7004-9316: Amendment 327
Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Patrick
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program
RAFT, Line Item 7004-9316: Amendment 327, s
Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Patrick: T
On April 14th, the House of Representative's Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) unveiled its $27.8 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2011. Many line items in the housing and benefits category would see funding levels maintained or slightly increased to accommodate increased demand.
At the same time, however, some programs, including the emergency assistance family shelter and services account, would be severely cut by the HWM budget.
On April 15th and 16th, Representatives submitted amendments to the HWM budget. This week, Representatives can sign on as co-sponsors of those amendments, in advance of next week's House budget debate.
Please contact your State Representative this week to ask her/him to support the following amendments, so as to improve the House version of the budget. Ask your Representative to contact the House Clerk's office to sign their name to these amendments:
Emergency Assistance Family Shelter and Services Program (EA, Line Item 7004-0101): Amendment 637, sponsored by Chairwoman Kay Khan and Rep. Tom Sannicandro: This amendment would increase funding for the EA line item to $133.5 million, the current FY'10 appropriation level. If this amendment does not pass, it could adversely affect the family shelters run by Catholic Charities.
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT, Line Item 7004-9316): Amendment 327, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Patrick: This amendment would increase RAFT funding to $2.5 million for FY'11. This amendment is co-sponsored by Representatives Sannicandro, Fernandes, Toomey, Provost, D'Amico, Peake, Stanley, Sánchez, Pignatelli, Rice, Fallon, Falzone, and Grant. This program is a vital referral source for our Basic Needs programs.
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children Program (EAEDC, Line Item 4408-1000): Amendment 635, sponsored by Chairwoman Kay Khan and Rep. Tom Sannicandro: This amendment would increase EAEDC funding from $84.7 million to $88.8 million for FY'11. This amount would better match DTA's caseload projections for the program, and help protect vulnerable elders and persons with disabilities who rely on this safety net program.
To find out who your Representative is, visit www.wheredoivotema.com. For a list of Representatives and their contact information, please click here.