PathWays PA E-Newsletter: January 19, 2010

State

PA Budget Continues to See Changes

With the FY2010-2011 budget address drawing near, work on the FY2009-2010 budget has not yet drawn to a close. After 101 days without a budget and the signing of a table games bill just two weeks ago, funds have now been moved from budgetary items to a budgetary reserve, which means they cannot be spent. Cuts include:

• A 5.2% cut in Agriculture
• A 2.4% cut in Environmental Protection
• A 3.4% cut in Health
• A 4.1% cut in Labor and Industry
• A 0.6% cut in Public Welfare
• Line item decreases include Industry Partnerships; children's health insurance; county child welfare; autism intervention; mental health services; and Pre-K Counts.
• For a full list, please see this chart from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center or this copy of the line item changes

32 line items, including New Choices New Options, have been fully cut.

These changes to the budget have been made following lower state revenues than projected. Budget cuts are expected to save about $161 million, with Governor Rendell projecting a deficit of $450 million by year's end. The remaining budget gap is expected to be made up with gaming license fees and some prior-year money.


Information/Events

Free Tax Preparation from PathWays PA

PathWays PA’s basic tax preparation service is designed to provide free tax filing for households whose income does not exceed $50,000. We can also assist tax filers who are disabled or who do not speak English as their first language.

If you or someone you know would like to have taxes prepared by the Self Sufficiency team, please call the numbers below to schedule an appointment.

Philadelphia

PathWays PA West Philly Office
3617 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA
To schedule an appointment call Linda at 215-387-1470.
Mondays 10am – 2pm (starting February 1st)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm -6pm

PathWays PA EARN Center
926 W. Allegheny Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19133
To schedule an appointment call 215-226-2600.
Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30am -12:30pm (starting January 27th)
Saturdays January 30 and February 6 10am - 2pm

Delaware County

PathWays PA Administrative Office
310 Amosland Road Holmes, PA 19043
To schedule an appointment call Ann DelCollo at 610-543-5022.
Mondays and Wednesdays 2pm - 6pm
Fridays 10am-2pm (starting January 29th)

J. Lewis Crozer Library
620 Engle Street Chester, PA 19013
To schedule an appointment call 610-494-3454.
Wednesdays 4pm - 7pm (starting January 27th)
The following Saturdays:
Feb 13, March 6, April 10 9:30am -12:30pm

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union
Wharf at Rivertown- 2501 Seaport Drive, Chester
To schedule an appointment call 610-619-7000.
The following Tuesdays:
January 26, February 9, February 23, March 9, March 23
10am - 2pm

Please feel free to refer your eligible friends and family to our services!


Need Assistance With Public Benefits Applications?

PathWays PA provides assistance to those who need help applying for food stamps or other benefits. For further information, you can contact our office in Philadelphia 215-387-1470 or Delaware County 610-543-5022.

For more information about the services provided by PathWays PA please visit our website.


Ways to Help Haiti

On the evening of January 12th, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. It is the most powerful quake to hit the impoverished country in more than 200 years. Reports describe the destruction as affecting as much as 70 percent of the buildings, with road debris making emergency response difficult. The Prime Minister reported on January 13 that hundreds of thousands of lives may have been lost.

You can help people affected by donating to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund. Gifts to the Fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.

Additionally, interested donors can visit InterAction to view its list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies, and Give.org or Charity Navigator to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities.


Healthy Philadelphia Community Meeting

Join the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to share your health care stories in the first Healthy Philadelphia Community Meeting.

WHEN: January 28th – 6:30
WHERE: Church of the Advocate, 18th Street and Diamond, Philadelphia

Healthy Philadelphia is a non-profit organization dedicated to working to solve heath care problems Philadelphians face. It grew out of a voter mandate, which passed by 87 percent in North Philadelphia, that required the Department of Health to develop a plan for universal health care.

Please attend and tell your story about the challenges you or your family have faced in getting high quality on-going health care. Please contact Mayla Henderson at 215-686-5263 or mayla.henderson@phila.gov if you would like to share your story.


Working Families Resource Summit

WHEN: Saturday, February 27th 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

WHERE: Interboro High School
16th and Amosland Road, Prospect Park PA

The summit will include a service fair that connects community members with government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and local resources. Exhibitors will cover a variety of subjects including housing relief, employment, health services, adult education, credit counseling, legal issues, elder and child care, Veteran benefits, and more.

To RSVP and for more information please visit click here. If you have any question please contact Eve Massa at 610-892-8623 or eve.massa@mail.house.gov.


Start Small, Think Big: Budgeting to Save

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley is presenting a motivational workshop on budgeting, savings, and designing a spending plan.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 2nd 6:00-7:00
WHERE: J. Lewis Crozer Library, 620 Engle Street, Chester

Become a Saver! This workshop, sponsored by Philadelphia Saves, will provide you with the tools, resources and motivation you need to begin saving. You can save for retirement, for college, a down payment on a home or car - you name the goal. No matter how much or how little you earn, the habits and benefits of saving can be a part of your life! Part of learning to save is budgeting. One must start small, and always, think big!

For more information or to register, click here, call 215-563-5665 ext. 3328, or email philasaves@cccsdv.org. Registration is required.


PathWays PA Information and Initiatives

Change a Life: Become a Mentor to Foster Youth

The Achieving Independence Center (AIC) wants caring and supportive adults willing to build a friendship with a foster care youth. You can be that big brother or sister a youth in foster care needs by sharing your life experiences, time, and friendship. Having a shoulder to lean on when times get tough helps young people stay focused and not lose hope.

Whether it is providing them with caring support, friendship, or helping them with their aspirations (personal and professional), the AIC Mentoring Program can match you with a young person between the ages of 16-21 who could benefit from your knowledge and experience.

The AIC is a “one-stop” center designed to assist young people ages 16-21 achieve their future goals of self-sufficiency. The AIC is dedicated to providing support and real life tools for youth who want to make an investment in their future!

Help a youth build their self-esteem and achieve their personal goals. You make a difference by simply getting involved.

For additional information please call 215-574-9194.


Take Action on Earned Sick Time

48 percent of workers in the United States have no access to earned sick time, which means that if they are sick (or if their family members are sick) they must choose between working sick or losing their pay (or their jobs). If you are one of the 48 percent who have no earned sick time - or one of the 52 percent who do - please take our survey and tell us more!

There are bills at the federal, state, and local level to support earned sick time for everyone - here is what you can do:

• Support the Federal Healthy Families Act! Under The Healthy Families Act, workers would have the opportunity to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 7 days of sick time per year. This time could be used to care for workers or their families, or could be used as "safe days" in cases of domestic violence. Tell your legislators that we need paid sick days now!
• Support the paid sick days campaign in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia! Become our friend! Show your support for earned sick time by visiting Facebook. You can support earned sick time in Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia. Support both!
• If you don't live in Pennsylvania, you can still support earned sick time. Visit The National Partnership for Women and Families website to learn more about campaigns in your area.
• Tell us your story! Are you a parent who lost their job to stay home with a sick child? Are you a business owner who provides/supports paid sick days? Email your story to us at policy@pathwayspa.org.
• Call your Representatives! If you live in Philadelphia, call your City Councilperson and urge them to support "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces," which guarantees earned sick time for all working Philadelphians. Not sure who your City Councilperson is? Click on this link and type in your home address to find out which district you live in: http://www.phila.gov/citycouncil/districtform/districtform.html.
• If you live in Pennsylvania (but outside of Philadelphia), call your state Representative. Tell him/her you support earned sick time for workers. Not sure who your Representative is? Simply type your address here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm.

Do You Need Help Paying for Post-Secondary Education?

PathWays PA offers Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), a matched savings program that offers financial education while helping you save for school. Through the program, your savings can be matched at a rate of three-to-one. If you save $500, we will give you an additional $1500 to go towards your school expenses.

Applicants must meet program income guidelines, be working (full or part time), and be enrolled or accepted into an accredited institution.

If you are interested or have any questions, please e-mail Kelly Binder at kbinder@pathwayspa.org.