Lutheran Day 2023 Garners Record Turnout for Study and Practice of Civic Life and Faith
Lutherans turned out in record numbers for LAMPa's annual day of advocacy, gathering in person after four years to wrestle with what it means for us to be disciples in this democracy in this time and to speak as church together for neighbors struggling with hunger or lack of a
SWPA Honors King With Focus on a Home for ALL in the Beloved Community
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an ecumenical service of Holy Communion and a weekend focused the practice of nonviolence in their continuing efforts to build the Beloved Community in the Pittsburgh region with a priority on equitable housing. In his sermon, "Dr.
Blanket Project Quilt Squares Return to Capitol with Invitations to Visit Ministries
Red-white-and-blue quilt patches were tucked inside cards and hand-delivered to members of Congress the day after Valentine's Day, urging them to act in love for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. The patches had been part of the first-ever Homeless Remembrance Blanket Project on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol,
PA Housing Alliance Recognizes Pastor of The Welcome Church with Frontline Leader Award
The Rev. Violet Little, pastor of The Welcome Church in Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, was recognized with the Frontline Leader Award at the state’s Homes Within Reach Conference. More than 800 attended the conference, hosted by the Housing Alliance of PA, of which LAMPa is a member. The award recognizes those
Heating Assistance Grant Applications Now Open
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants. The cash grant is a one-time payment sent directly to the utility
Legislature Raises Cap on PHARE Fund for Housing by $20M
The General Assembly has approved a $20 million cap increase for the Pa. Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. The increase, which will take effect in 2023, will raise the capped amount of Realty Transfer Tax funds available to PHARE from $40 million to $60 million annually. LAMPa advocates
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
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 ,
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.
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".