LAMPa Enews - November 2013

As Advent approaches, Lutheran hunger ministries can expect to see increased need in the wake of cuts to federal nutrition programs affecting 1.8 million Pennsylvanians.

The cut amounts to 21 lost meals per month for a family of four. Approximately 766,000 children, 494,000 seniors and an estimated 59,300 veterans across the Commonwealth will see benefit reductions as a result of the expiration of the act that temporarily boosted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly known as food stamps) in the face of recession. Read more and get a county-by-county breakdown.

PA "RETHINKING" ASSET TEST FOR SNAP

Pa. Department of Public Welfare Secretary Beverly Mackereth announced she is rethinking the asset test that requires households with people under age 60 to be limited to $5,000 in assets in order to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Gov. Tom Corbett also indicated his willingness to reconsider the test instituted by her predecessor in 2012. Read their comments here. LAMPa testified in the General Assemblyagainst institution of the asset test in 2012.

LUTHERANS HELP LAUNCH BREAKFAST CHALLENGE

Reading pastors Bruce Osterhout and Eileen Smith Le Van joined LAMPa staff and Chris Rodriguez of Reading School District at the governor's residence for the Pa. School Breakfast Summit. LAMPa is working with the Pa. Department of Education, local businesses and other anti-hunger organizations across the to launch the first-ever School Breakfast Challenge in Pennsylvania. Learn how your district can receive technical assistance and equipment to improve their breakfast programs. Schools that achieve the largest gains in breakfast participation will receive awards-cash and other prizes when the challenge ends in the spring of 2014.

For tips on how to get started in your congregation, check out LAMPa's

School Breakfast Campaign Resource Page.

IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE TO FOCUS ON DREAMERS

Join the LAMPa Statewide Immigration Task Force for an update on the Pa. Dream Act in a conference call with the office of Sen. Lloyd Smucker, the bill's sponsor, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14. Also hear about one congregation's engagement on the issue and learn from success of the Dream Act in Maryland. REGISTER HERE.

Pennsylvania Dream Act

One action the task force is supporting would give some 800 Pennsylvania high school seniors a shot at the American Dream as they return to school this fall. LAMPa is mobilizing the Lutheran voice in the state to join together to call for the passage of Senate Bill 713, the DREAM Act.

HOUSING TRUST FUND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Nearly $8.5 million is going to put homes within reach of more Pennsylvanians in 22 counties, thanks to the Pa. Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. The recently awarded funding comes from impact fees in the Marcellus Shale region and will be returned to projects in those areas. LAMPa is working with housing partners to expand the Pa. State Housing Trust Fund to create jobs, strengthen communities and prevent homelessness. Read more.

See the projects the fund is supporting here.

HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR ACCESS HEALTH CARE

The new health insurance marketplaces have had a rocky start, in part due to well-publicized online glitches. We face another challenge in getting health coverage to people with low incomes who will be covered by the ACA. According to Enroll America, over 70% of those eligible for a subsidy in the new health insurance marketplace have NO IDEA this exists. Some Lutherans are being trained to be a PHAN Certified Health Reform Trainer* through the PA Health Access Network. Contact Athena Ford at aford@pahealthaccess.org or 215-557-0822 x 107 for more information.

View this webinar from the PA Budget and Policy Center for an overview of all that is happening on ACA implementation and Medicaid Expansion.

CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY ACTIONS FOR ADVOCACY

In August 2013, over 1,000 voting members at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh acted on resolutions and memorials that have implications for LAMPa's advocacy ministry. LAMPa has prepared a summary of these actions and noted current, related public policy issues in Pennsylvania. Read more.

LUTHERAN DAY AT THE CAPITOL - MAY 6, 2014

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR LAMPA'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY

Lutheran Day at the Capitol will be a special gathering to celebrate LAMPa's 35th Anniversary! It will include a day of worship, learning and activites based at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Camp Hill followed by an evening dinner and program held in the State Capitol Rotunda.