Budget Crisis

Vote for Homes! Coalition
2011 Policy Agenda

VOTE FOR HOMES! COALITION
Vote for Homes! Coalition is a nonpartisan advocacy effort comprised of over 50 nonprofit organizations focused on the issues of affordable housing, living-wage jobs, and quality services in Philadelphia. Since 1999, Vote for Homes! has registered more than 14,300 voters and mobilized thousands to vote.

PRIORITY GOALS

1) Housing Systems Planning and Coordination

VFH_2011_Policy_Agenda_042011.pdf

Southeastern PA Budget Rally Planning Call
Wednesday, August 19th
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Conference Call Number: 1-866-740-1260
Access code: 2811137

See attached agenda, meeting minutes from 8-17, and the draft flyer and talking points.

Southeastern PA Budget Rally Planning Call Agenda and Talking Pts 081909.doc

minutes conference call 8-17-09.doc

flyer draft -WE WANT A BUDGET NOW.doc

Talking Points on State Budget DRAFT 8-19.doc

Sponsorship Form- southeastern pa event.doc

Southeastern PA Budget Rally Planning Call
Agenda – August 17th
3:00 p.m.
Conference Call Number: 1-866-740-1260
Access code: 2811137

See attached agenda and talking points.

Southeastern PA Budget Rally Planning Call Agenda and Talking Pts 081709.doc

CALL NOW and GET YOUR FRIENDS & COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME

Ask for your State Senator’s and State Representative’s support for restoring the cuts to the budget for housing, services, and education.

Pennsylvania’s legislators must pass a meaningful State budget and permit the City’s sales tax increase. Without a state and city budget that makes sense, people who need behavioral health services won’t get them, workers are losing jobs and struggling to pay their own rent, and homelessness will increase. When the City cannot pay providers to house people who are homeless and to meet the needs of people with behavioral health issues, a ripple effect is sent throughout the community that impacts Philadelphians of all backgrounds.

A few weeks ago, Mayor Nutter offered a budget that minimized impacts on vulnerable populations; we are grateful for his leadership and hopeful that this commitment can be maintained throughout the challenging process of approving the City’s budget. Until we achieve the goal of 5,500 new units of permanent supportive housing to address homelessness, we continue to need emergency and transitional housing. You can help Vote for Homes! protect housing, shelter, and services in the Philadelphia budget! Click on "Read More" for phone #s and emails of our City Council Representatives.

talking points-VoteForHomes-050709.doc

As many of you all have heard, Mayor Nutter announced today that he is sparing shelter beds and transitional housing (and many other essential services) from being cut. All emergency and transitional housing beds will be maintained and the City’s commitment to the Mayor’s Homeless Strategy, providing 700 additional slots for the homeless, will continue. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! See the article below for more details.

Attached are potential cuts to the Office of Supportive Housing budget under Mayor Nutter's request to see the effect 10%, 20%, and 30% reductions.

OSH Final Budget Reductions 2009-2010.pdf

Please print these postcards (see files below) and urge your friends and families to sign on to the Vote for Homes! effort and send a message to Mayor Nutter and Philadelphia City Council that no cuts are acceptable to housing and services in our city. Please bring completed cards to Project H.O.M.E. at 1515 Fairmount Ave by March 4th and we will distribute them to the Mayor and City Council Members at a future event.

Vote for Homes Postcard - Child Safety Nets

VFH_-_Subway_-_All_of_us_-_Final[1].pdf

Our city's leaders have difficult decisions to make in the wake of an economic crisis of historic proportions. Just as the City's budget is suffering, so are the people and families who are most vulnerable to economic stress in our community. Further, if we are going to see an economic revival in Philadelphia, increased homelessness will only hinder that progress.

I am reaching out to you today because I know you can help us.

Consider this:

• Under the Mayor’s proposals, anywhere from 500 to 1,500 homeless people will lose their beds in a Philadelphia shelter.