Two Steps Forward on Affordable Housing
Your advocacy is working and members of the General Assembly are catching on: Investing in the housing market is good for the Commonwealth. It creates jobs and encourages community revitalization and reinvestment, all while helping to end homelessness and expand the availability of homes within reach of low wage workers
Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly Gathers to Feed the Hungry
The Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly invited over 700 leaders and voting members to gather around the theme of “Feeding the Hungry”. The Assembly was preceded by a 12-hours meal packing event that resulted in over 300,000 meals packed, to be distributed through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Assembly, Keynoter, The
Weigh In With LAMPa on Policy to Combat Poverty
LAMPa is looking for Lutherans to weigh in on behalf of the approximately 1.5 million Pennsylvanians living in poverty. Following the release of Beyond Poverty, the House Majority Policy Committee (headed by Rep. Dave Reed, who spoke at Lutheran Day) has identified and announced the formation of legislative team leaders
A New Payday Loan Effort?
Over the last three years payday lenders have attempted to legalize their predatory products in Pennsylvania. Each time they have rechristened the same predatory loan products with names like “short-term loans,” “micro-loans,” and “fresh start.” Each time, payday lenders attempted to bury the high cost of the loans they seek
Expanding Help and Hope for Homeless Infants, Toddlers Across Pennsylvania
Each year, an estimated 6,000 Pennsylvania infants (birth to 3 years old) are homeless. Some are in homeless shelters, some are in temporary housing, or they move from one place to another where anyone will take in their mother. Many of these homeless babies suffer from some kind of trauma
Raise the Wage!
LAMPa has begun work asking for an increase for Pennsylvania’s low-wage workers as an essential component of addressing the complex issue of poverty in our state. The Commonwealth’s minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour for five years and, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry, 5.5 percent
Register Now for Lutheran Day at the Capitol
You are invited to Lutheran Day at the Capitol and LAMPa’s 35th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, May 6. Join Lutherans from around the state to focus on our baptismal call to ministry in the public square and the unique voice of Lutheran Christians addressing hunger and poverty. The day will
Farm Bill Cuts, Adds and Changes Programs
This past week representatives from the House and Senate agriculture committees finally came to an agreement on a new farm bill. See how your Representative voted on final passage of the bill here; see how your Senators voted here. While not perfect, the conference report that was subsequently passed by
Immigration Is A Pennsylvania Issue – Get Involved in the LAMPa PA Immigration Leadership Circle
Immigration law is a federal matter. LAMPa is focused on Pennsylvania matters. The intersection of the two is the focus for the LAMPa PA Immigration Leadership Circle. The goal of the Circle is to provide an opportunity for Lutherans in Pennsylvania to learn and to network so that we are
More Kids Are Getting The Breakfast They Need
Two new reports this week show that school breakfast participation is on the rise, thanks to successful school policies and state legislation that make breakfast more accessible to students, and thanks to advocates like you! First, the annual FRAC breakfast scorecard is out with some great news: More low-income kids
