[act-ma] This Wednesday, 2/29: Leap into Action to End Homelessness! Join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at the State House for Legislative Action Day!

[Kelly Turley (kelly@mahomeless.org)]

*Leap into Action to End Homelessness!*



Please join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless for our “Leap into
Action to End Homelessness!” Legislative Action Day this Wednesday,
February 29th (Leap Day!) from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Massachusetts State
House in Boston.



The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless* *has been working for the
past thirty years as a key voice in the public policy and social services
arenas for families and individuals in Massachusetts who are at-risk or
experiencing homelessness. Each year, the Coalition holds a Legislative
Action Day at the State House to engage our members and allies in educating
their state legislators about the needs of the Commonwealth's residents who
are experiencing housing crises.



This year, we are mobilizing our members and supporters to work on a number
of priorities (
http://www.mahomeless.org/images/FY13_Budget_and_Bill_Priorities_2-24-12.pdf),
including efforts to establish a special commission on the needs of
unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness; maintain access to
Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter and services for children and families;
expand funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) housing
subsidy program and the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
(RAFT) homelessness prevention program; and create a state fund to ensure
that children and youth who are experiencing homelessness can get
transportation back to their schools of origin.



As part of Legislative Action Day, the Coalition will host a series of
speakers on the importance of increasing housing and services for
unaccompanied youth. Scheduled speakers include Representative James O’Day
(D-West Boylston), the lead sponsor of House Bill 3838: "An Act providing
housing and support services for unaccompanied homeless youth" and the
sponsor of Legislative Action Day; Reverend Peter Wells, Associate
Conference Minister, Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of
Christ; Ayala Livny, Program Manager, Youth on Fire in Cambridge, and
Quianna Sarjeant, Youth Speakers Bureau Member, Youth on Fire.



Most importantly, there will be time after the panel discussion to meet
with legislators to advocate for improved access to affordable housing,
services, and programs for children, youth, families and individual adults
at-risk or experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts.



We hope you will be able to raise your voice and join us for this exciting
day!



For more information and to register for this free event, please call Kat
at 781-595-7570 x24 or go to www.mahomeless.org or directly to *
www.mahomeless.org/advocacy/legislative-action-day.*


--Join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in taking action to end
homelessness by going to www.mahomeless.org;
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Massachusetts-Coalition-for-the-Homeless/91348015926>
www.facebook.com/macoalitionforthehomeless; and www.twitter.com/mahomeless!
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