Massachusetts Catholic Conference
May 18, 2009
The Massachusetts Coalition for the
Homeless, joined by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, urges individuals
to contact your state senator this week in support of four
amendments to the Senate’s proposed state budget for the next fiscal year. These amendments, dealing with funding for programs
for the homeless and for other people in need, will be taken up this week during the
Senate budget debate.
Action:
Please call your State
Senator. Call the main
switchboard (617-722-2000) and ask to be transferred to your Senator’s office.
· Ask
your Senator to urge Senate leadership to adopt the following four amendments during the
Senate’s budget debate:
1. Amendment # 210, filed by Senator
Thomas McGee (D-Lynn): This amendment would reinstate funding for the “First
Stop” program that places housing advocates in neighborhood health centers and public
schools to help consumers who are at risk of homelessness.
2. Amendment
# 229, filed by Senator James
Eldridge (D-Acton): This amendment would keep existing eligibility levels for access to
shelter for families experiencing homelessness.
3. Amendment # 250, filed by Senator
Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Jamaica Plain): This amendment would restore funding for rental
assistance.
4. Amendment # 549, filed by Senator
Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville): This amendment would maintain critical funding for
last-resort emergency aid to the elderly and persons with disabilities.
· Your
message can be as simple as this: “Hello,
my name is ____. I am a constituent who lives
at [give home street address and town] and I am calling in support of four Senate
amendments to the state budget to help the homeless and other vulnerable persons, and
these amendments are numbers 210, 229, 250 and 549. I
urge Senator [name] to ask the Senate leadership to adopt these amendments.”
· To
learn who your State Senator is, go to www.wheredoivotema.com or call the main State
House number at 617-722-2000.
· For
more detailed information about each of the amendments, click on the link to Senate Budget Amendments Background
(v) 617-367-6060
(f) 617-367-2767
(e) staff@macathconf.org
(w) http://www.macathconf.org
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