Blanket the Capitol and Cover the Homeless With Care
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Yet, for many in our country, that has become increasingly impossible. A severe shortage of affordable housing has forced many not just into shelters and unstable and unsafe housing, but also into the streets. "In many communities, unsheltered homelessness is increasing, leaving
LAMPa Policy Council Gathers to Learn, Grow Community
The Laurel Highlands served as a beautiful backdrop for LAMPa's Policy Council retreat at Camp Sequanota in September. The council, which began a new term Sept. 1, heard updates on legislative action and began discussion of possible policy priorities for the next term, based on what they are witnessing in
Congregations Add Voices to “God’s work. Our Hands.” Sunday
From litter pickup and backpack stocking to health kit ingathering and soup kitchen cooking, Lutheran hands were busy doing God's work across the whole ELCA in September. And in some Pennsylvania congregations, those hands were writing letters to give voice to the needs of their vulnerable neighbors. Congregations such as
National Housing Report Shows Wide Gap Between Wages, Cost of Rent
To afford a two-bedroom apartment plus utilities — without paying more than 30% of income on housing — a Pennsylvania household must earn $20.90 an hour, or $43,463 a year, according to a new national study. The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report Out of Reach 2022 ,
Save the Date! Lutheran Day in the Capitol April 27, 2023
Mark your calendar and plan to join Lutherans from around the state for a day of worship, learning and advocacy on April 27, 2023. Plan to stay for a dinner celebration of advocates at the Harrisburg Hilton that evening. The day's events will begin at Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp
ELCA Advocacy Cafes Bring Conversation, Education, to Election Season
Our Christian faith compels us to attend to the world through the lens of our relationship to God and to one another. Sometimes, we may echo the sentiment: The world’s so big and I’m so small. Yet there is much we can do act for greater justice, and we are
Housing, Education and Creation Care Get Boost in State Budget
The 2022-23 Pennsylvania budget includes significant gains for education, housing and creation care, but only a modest increase for anti-hunger programs. A $1.8 billion increase in education funding makes strides toward decreasing the funding gap in what has been one of the least equitable school funding systems in the country.
State Insurance Department Seeks Comments on Availability of Health Care
The state Insurance Department is accepting public comment through Aug. 5 on their proposed plan to investigate the availability of healthcare professionals in Pennsylvania. The department is looking for information about how easy or hard it is to find care in communities across the state. This is an important opportunity
LSS Hunger Ministry Lifts Needs of Seniors, Pennsylvanians with Disabilities
The Rev. Angela Hammer of St. Paul, Penryn, shared the experiences of her congregation's feeding ministry in a state Capitol press conference in support of proposed increases to minimum nutrition assistance benefits for seniors and Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Hunger leaders in all seven Pennsylvania synods have reported increasing need in
Advocates, Legislators, Rally for Whole-Home Repairs Bill
On May 24, LAMPa joined advocates and legislators gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol to rally in support of the bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Bill. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) spoke of his support for the bill saying that Pennsylvania must "Fix the homes before we have to tear them down".
