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 ,
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".
LAMPa Joins Advocates, Mothers, Urging Safety Net Protections
"Through human decisions and actions, God is at work in economic life. Economic life is intended to be a means through which God’s purposes for humankind and creation are to be served. When this does not occur, as a church we cannot remain silent because of who and whose we
Climate Panel Report “Dire Warning” with Narrow Window for Action
Climate change is causing widespread and dangerous threats to nature and billions of people around the planet, but especially those least able to cope, according to a report released this week by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warns that humankind has a narrowing window for action. “This
LAMPa Supports Efforts to Address High Prescription Costs in PA
One in five Pennsylvanians has chosen not to fill a prescription because of cost, and another one in six has cut pills in half or skipped doses for the same reason, according to a study shared by the Pa. Health Access Network (PHAN). LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale joined PHAN partners,
IRS: Get Your Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments
Child Tax Credit payments are set to go out to families this month, and many have already seen their Economic Impact payment land in their bank accounts. For those who did not file a 2019 or 2020 tax return, however, they will not see this federal aid. As the IRS
Evictions Moratorium Extended to July 31st
Last week the Biden Administration once again extended the Center for Disease Control (CDC)'s moratorium on housing evictions from the end of June. The new expiration date is July 31st, 2021. The administration has made clear, however, that there will not be another extension on the moratorium. Instead, officials have
Pennsylvania Leading the Nation in Student Homelessness Increase
A newly released report shows that homelessness among children and youth is increasing dramatically in Pennsylvania while rising unevenly in other states during the 2018-19 school year (SY). PEC reviewed the report from the National Center for Homeless Education called Federal Data Summary School Years 2017 - 2019, and summarized
LAMPa Welcomes Donna Skinner Echols to Policy Council
LAMPa is very happy to welcome Donna Skinner Echols to Policy Council as a representative of Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod! Donna has 42 years of experience in the development, management, monitoring and administration of family services programs for at-risk children and families. She has worked in the urban settings of Houston,
Housing Advocacy Still Needed, Even as CDC Eviction Moratorium Remains
UPDATE: "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on June 2 that it would continue to stay a lower court ruling seeking to overturn the CDC eviction moratorium. This latest ruling leaves the moratorium in-place, so that millions of households behind on their rent continue to
