ACTIONET ALERT!

Email your State Legislators: Domestic Violence Funding

 

June 20, 2007

 

Dear LAMPa Advocate:

 

Please send an email message to your State Representative and State Senator as soon as possible to help Domestic Violence programs in Pennsylvania.  It takes less than five minutes using a process on the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) website (see "Call to Action" section below).

 

The ELCA Church Council adopted “A Message on...Community Violence” on April 18, 1994.  According to this message, “Communities of faith, on their own, through social ministry organizations, and in partnership with others, are called to minister to those in captivity to violence through such efforts as...assisting those protected by poverty, racism, family instability, domestic violence, and unemployment as these seek to deal with these challenges...”

 

One of our leading ELCA social ministry organizations (SMOs) in Pennsylvania for domestic violence services is the Lutheran Settlement House in Philadelphia.  The following is a call to action message from Beatriz F. Vieira, Executive Director, Lutheran Settlement House:  

 

“Please support our advocacy efforts to maintain the nominal increase for Domestic Violence funding in the FY08 Governor's Budget. In the FY08 there is an increase of 1.2 million dollars and a 3% COLA (cost of living allowance) that will support existing programs and recoup cuts that have occurred over the last few years.  It takes less than five minutes to complete the process.  We understand that legislators want to hear from their constituents, we need them to know you support Domestic Violence programs and services....These monies are vital to all Domestic Violence programs across Pennsylvania.  Your help and support is critical!  Thanks for your support!”

 

Grateful for your partnership in advocacy ministry with and for the poor, vulnerable, disenfranchised, and on behalf of all God’s creation, I remain...

 

Neil Harrison

 

P.S.  It would be appreciated as well if you would file post-email report with the LAMPa office at lamp@paonline.com, including information about any advocacy you do on this issue.

 

The Rev. Neil P. Harrison

Executive Director

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania

245 Division Street, Suite 2

Harrisburg, PA   17110-1213

717-232-9128

717-232-4155 (fax)

nharrison@lamp.org

www.lamp.org

 

 

CALL TO ACTION:  EMAIL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS:  Domestic Violence Funding

 

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has organized an advocacy campaign on their website with resources to send the email messages to your legislators as follows:

 

  1. Click on the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) website http://www.pcadv.org.      
  2. Then click on "Action Alert" in the left frame.
  3. THEN click the "TAKE ACTION" button in the main frame (the Purple Postcard Campaign). 
  4. Now all you have to do is fill in your name and address, and click "Send Message."   Once you type in the zip code it will automatically provide you with the information about your legislator(s). An email gets sent directly to your legislator(s).

The following is the content of the email message provided on the PCADV website:

 

Represenative/Senator ________________:

 

I believe that every home should be a safe home, and that if we care about ending domestic violence, we need to take a stand in favor of adequately funding programs that serve victims.

State funding for domestic violence services in Pennsylvania is less now than it was in 2002.

I am asking you to ensure that Pennsylvania's 2007/08 budget includes a modest $1.5 million increase, representing a 3% COLA and $1.2 million to maintain existing domestic violence services. It is an outrage that 3,974 victims were turned away last year because programs did not have the resources needed to serve them.

Your support for this funding can mean the difference between life and death.

 

Sincerely,

 

Name

Address

Phone