[act-ma] 2/27: Join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at the State House for Legislative Action Day!

[Kelly Turley (kelly@mahomeless.org)]

*Join the Fight Against Homelessness: Participate in the Massachusetts
Coalition for the Homeless’ February 27th Legislative Action Day & Youth on
the Hill Day!*

*
*

Please join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless for our
Legislative Action Day & Youth on the Hill Day on Wednesday, February 27th 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, including efforts to create housing and supportive services
for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness; restore access to
Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter and services for children and families;
expand funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) for
families and individuals and the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled,
and Children (EAEDC) program; and maintain funding for key programs like
the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homelessness
prevention program.


As part of Legislative Action Day, the Coalition will host a series of
speakers on the importance of increasing housing and services for families,
youth, and adults. Scheduled speakers include Representative Jim O’Day
(D-West Boylston), the lead sponsor of House Docket 364: An Act providing
housing and support services for unaccompanied homeless youth, the sponsor
of Legislative Action Day, and a member of the newly created Massachusetts
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission; Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton),
Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing; Scottie Wait, Director of
Volunteer Programs at Pine Street Inn; Ayala Livny, Program Manager at
Youth on Fire in Cambridge; a representative of the Unaccompanied Youth
Speakers Bureau of Youth on Fire; and several families and individuals who
have experienced homelessness.


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


The Coalition also is sponsoring a powerful art exhibit of art work by and
about people experiencing homelessness. The exhibit will run from Monday,
February 25th - Friday, March 1st in Doric Hall of the State House.


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


For more information and to register for this free event, please call
Samantha at 781-595-7570 x20 or go to www.mahomeless.org or directly to *
www.mahomeless.org/component/content/article/78-mch/182-legislative-action-day-2013
.*





--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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