Dismas House – Funding Cut Entirely from Budget

Massachusetts Catholic Conference

April 21, 2009

What is Dismas House? Dismas House is a supportive community that provides transitional housing and services to former prisoners. People living in the house pay part of the operating expenses. There are simple rules, such as no violence, drugs or alcohol; and there are expectations, such as attendance at dinners, curfews, chores and participating in house meetings and activities

·        Both a city-sponsored study and a three-year tracking project of recidivism rates found that Dismas House residents stabilize and succeed at rates between 69-75%. (The general prison population succeeds at rate of 25%);

• Representative John J. Binienda (D-Worcester) Chair of the House Committee on Rules and Representative James J. O'Day (D-West Boylston) filed an amendment to restore funding for the Dimasi House (Line Item 8900-0001) at $80,000.

Call your State Representative

[Use the main switchboard # (617-722-2000) and ask to be transferred to his or her office].

·        Ask your Representative to co-sponsor and support the amendment offered by Representative Binienda and Representative O'Day for restoring $80,000 in funds for Dismas House.

·        To learn who is your State Representative, go to www.wheredoivotema.com or call the main State House number at 617-722-2000.  

Representatives can sign on as co-sponsors until Friday, April 24, 2009. The House is scheduled to debate this budget and consider floor amendments April 27 - May 1.

REPORT BACK

Call the Massachusetts Catholic Conference at 617-367-6060 or email staff@macathconf.org.  Let us know what your State Representative decided. 

Massachusetts Catholic Conference
West End Place, Suite 5
150 Staniford St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2511
(v) 617-367-6060
(f) 617-367-2767
(e) staff@macathconf.org
(w) http://www.macathconf.org

MCC-Net is a statewide initiative of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC). The MCC is governed by the Bishops of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester.   The MCC is the public policy voice for the Roman Catholic Church in the Commonwealth, encouraging Catholics to write or call their legislators, and promoting the dignity of the human being. MCC-Net members support the Church's pro-life, pro-family, and pro-poor vision of social justice.  Roman Catholic residents of Massachusetts are encouraged to sign-up. 

Join MCC-Net online at www.macathconf.org.

If you wish to unsubscribe, please email staff@macathconf.org and put "unsubscribe" in the subject box of your email.