PathWays PA Policy Blog

Volunteers are needed for Delaware County: Point-In-Time Street Count. As a street count volunteer, you will be asked to assist an outreach team canvass pre-determined locations for homeless individuals and families. This is a valuable opportunity for anyone who would like a better understanding of the homeless experience in our community. Date for Point-in-Time (PIT): Jan 23 and 24, 2019. Find posters and flyers here . If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer please email Farea Graybill at graybillf@delcohsa.org.

There were few surprises in this year's Pennsylvania budget (other than the fact that it finished up early). We've compiled our usual list below of line items affecting low-income families and the people we serve. To see the full budget, visit the PA Office of the Budget . As you can see below, most line items that we follow stayed level or increased in funding. While the Governor's budget "zeroed out" (removed funding) from a few, all programs that we watch regained their funding in the legislature.

Philadelphia youth advocates (including PathWays PA's Brenda Dawson) with Senator Casey's SE PA Regional Director Ebony Staton Weidman. Courtesy PEC From our friends at PEC : Senator Robert Casey sponsored the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (S.2571), and he signed onto the "Dear Colleague" letter urging greater support for programs serving children and youth who experience homelessness. The next action is to urge Senators Casey and Toomey to sponsor the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HYCA), S. 611. HCYA is bi-partisan legislation that reforms HUD Homeless Assistance to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families. It allows some of the most vulnerable homeless families and youth - those staying with others because they have nowhere else to go, and those staying in motels - to be eligible for HUD homeless assistance by aligning eligibility criteria with those of other federal programs. Good news is that Lisa Murkow...

Click here to enlarge This afternoon, Governor Wolf announced the 2018-2019 budget, along with some of his policy initiatives for the year. In his budget speech , he proposed an additional $125 million for K-12 education and a new program, called Community Health Choices, designed to help seniors receive care in their communities instead of in facilities. The budget summary  also calls for an increase in the minimum wage, modernization of the Equal Pay law, and the passage of a statewide paid sick days bill. The chart pictured here shows selected line items from the Governor's budget. Basic Education, Pre-K Counts, and the Children's Health Insurance Program are among the programs set to get an increase, while Adult and Family Literacy and County Assistance Offices see a slight decrease in funding. A number of programs, including Mobile Science and Math Education, Job Training and Special Education, Regional Cancer Institutes, ALS Support Services, and the New Choices/Ne...

Adapted from our friends at NN4Y: Two key pieces of legislation were introduced in Congress to support higher education access and completion for youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness or been involved with foster care. Youth experiencing homelessness and youth from foster care face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education. Lack of family and supports, coupled with histories of neglect, abuse, trauma, mobility, and deep poverty, create roadblocks to their path to and through post-secondary education. Yet higher education is their best opportunity for economic independence and healthier lives. The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act (HEASHFY) was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Katherine Clark (D-5th/MA) and Don Young (R-AK). Streamlines the application and verification process for financial ai...

They're still dotting the eyes and crossing the t's, but it looks like we will have a PA budget that is close to on time. After a Senate vote earlier, the House must also approve the budget legislation before it heads to Governor Wolf. The Governor has indicated he will sign the bill, but probably not until early next week when other pieces of the budget are ready for his signature too. Below is our chart on the final budget proposal. Most (but not all) of the programs we track received flat or increased funding. Click here to enlarge

The Pennsylvania State House voted yesterday to pass a 2017-2018 budget package that cuts $815 million in spending from the budget proposed by Governor Wolf in February. The final vote was 114-85, with most (but not all) Republicans supporting the plan but no Democratic votes. The bill now moves on to the Senate. Budget cuts could be found across the board, including the human services line items that we follow. Some increases to education made by the governor remain in the budget, although early childhood education is getting a smaller increase than requested. Please take a look at the chart below to see how your budget items fared, or look at the full budget here . Your next steps: Look at the line items that matter to you, and call your state senator to share your thoughts. Should something be getting more money? Less? Tell your senator today. (PS - The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has a Fair Share Tax proposal on their website that could give you some ideas on how a...

As in most years, we've put together a graphic highlighting programs of special interest to PathWays PA and our clients. Please take a look and let us know what you think of the Governor's proposed funding methods.

From @PAHomelessYouth :  #couchesdontcount with @SenBobCasey and Youth employees at @PECCaresPhilly bringing awareness to #youthhomelessness Several key legislative proposals that affect Pennsylvania's 20,000+ youth who experience homelessness are stalled in Congress. Will any of these bills become law? What happens if they do not? Find the answers to these and other questions at the inaugural " Legislative Briefing about Youth Who Experience Homelessness." The forum will discuss with Senator Robert Casey's Legislative Director the current federal legislative status of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Act, and two other bills. On July 16, the U.S. Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act, S. 1177, by 81-17. This legislation reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including the education subtitle of the McKinney-Vento Act. The House passed its ESEA reauthorization bill, the ...

Birth certificates are often needed to receive medical assistance, housing and other public benefits, to obtain a Pennsylvania driver’s or nondriver’s license, for access to many public buildings, for general identification and for many other purposes. Unfortunately, individuals who become homeless due to domestic violence or other reasons do not always have access to these important documents. Since there is also a $20 fee for each birth certificate in Pennsylvania, getting new copies is challenging for low-income and homeless families. To help alleviate these needs, The Homeless Advocacy Project is sponsoring a FREE Birth Certificate Legal Clinic for homeless individuals and families at PECO headquarters at 2301 Market Street from 9-10:30 am on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. For questions, please call HAP at 215.523.9595. Homeless individuals who attend this free clinic will meet with an advocate who will request birth certificates for them and their minor children free of charge. ...

Many students are starting back to school this week. While some are anticipating meeting their new teachers and reconnecting with their friends to share stories of their summer, there are thousands of homeless teen girls wondering where they where they are going to sleep tonight, and whether they will be able to attend school at all. PathWays PA's Basic Center Program provides emergency shelter services to help runaway and homeless teen girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years old with assistance stabilizing their lives, remaining engaged in school, and successfully returning home (when safe to do so) or transitioning to safe, permanent independent housing. For more information about the Basic Center Program please contact LaSheena at 215-397-4287. Interested in PathWays PA posts on similar topics? 8/25/15 - FAMILY Act 8/26/15 - Many Faces of Hunger 6/26/15 - New and Improved?: House Bill 222 Remains Cruel

Hunger is a phenomenon that knows no race, gender, or age. Anyone can be affected by it, but the numbers show that certain groups feel the pain more than others. Veterans serve the country in a way that cannot be appreciated enough. They risk their lives in order to keep us safe. So, whys is it that 24% of veterans enrolled in VACS were identified as “food insecure?” The majority of veterans involved in VACS have issues with homelessness, income, drug abuse, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and HIV. Migrant and seasonal workers disproportionately feel the attack of hunger. Because they are relatively young, the average worker is 33 years of age, they are predisposed to hunger. In addition, many workers are able to start at twelve, so their education is cut short at middle school. These are all factors that contribute to the food deficiency among seasonal workers. In the Southwest one group of migrant workers reported that 82% of workers were food insecure. The geographic restr...

How much do you know about the homeless of Philadelphia? You are probably aware of the fact that there are people living on the streets of the city, but the statistics may shock you. Shelters all around Philly are filled to capacity. However, 48% of families are turned away just because there is no room for them. That means if we double the number of shelters in Philadelphia, then we may just barely be able to accommodate those seeking help. These numbers only include those who are seeking shelter. Many young people refuse to go into emergency housing because of the conditions. The need for Coordinated Assessment is increasing. This is where a person’s or families’ specific needs are evaluated and measured in order to decide what type of program they should enter. For the most part, the choices are transitional housing or emergency housing. Transitional housing offers services that can teach occupants a trade or some type of skill. In addition, participants would learn about bill...

Pope Francis’ September visit to Philadelphia has spurred the creation of the Francis Fund in association with Project HOME and the World Meeting of Families Hunger and Homelessness Committee. Headed by sister Mary Scullion, the project has pledged to aid 50 human service organizations. Among the organizations receiving grants so far are Philly Restart, Women Against Abuse, Coalition Against Hunger, and Pathways to Housing PA . It is estimated that 650 homeless will be on the streets of Philadelphia. This number does not including those who have sought shelter. The organization has plans to eradicate this homelessness and hunger, along with stopping human trafficking and domestic violence. Want to donate or learn how to apply for the funding? Visit projecthome.org for more. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 7/7/15 - Summer Food News 6/26/15 - New and Improved? House Bill 222 Remains Cruel 11/20/14 - Runaway Services at PathWays PA and Beyond

For many homeless families, including those served by PathWays PA, critical items such as birth certificates may get lost in the initial crisis of losing a home or in the move from shelter to shelter. Families who must leave their homes due to domestic violence are particularly vulnerable to losing important identification in their quest to find safety. Once a birth certificate is lost, obtaining a new one can be costly and time consuming. But without one, gaining access to public benefits, healthcare, or even a driver's license can be in jeopardy. On Wednesday, March 18, the Homeless Advocacy Project will be holding a Birth Certificate Clinic at Project HOME for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The clinic will take place from 9-11:00 am at 1515 Fairmount Avenue. Homeless individuals who attend this free clinic will meet with an advocate who will request birth certificates for them and their minor children free of charge. Interested in PathWay...

November is National Runaway Prevention Month, which means it is the perfect time to remind everyone of PathWays PA's Basic Center Program (BCP). The BCP is a community-based residential facility located in West Philadelphia that provides runaway prevention and intervention services for teen girls who have runaway, are homeless or are at risk of being a runaway and/or homeless youth. Five clients, aged 13-17 years, may reside at the Basic Center Program at any given time. The BCP is also now offering an after-school drop-in program for residents and non-residents. The teen lounge will be available for girls ages 13-17 in Philadelphia on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Teen girls can get homework help, a snack, sign up for support and life skills groups or just hang out. To learn more about the Basic Center Program, please contact the Basic Center at 215-397-4287. As the winter sets in and the temperatures turn cold, remember that America’s youth need saf...

From our friends at The National Network for Youth The needs of runaway and homeless youth continue to be an issue across the country and right here in our community. As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) works to meet President Obama’s “Opening Doors” mandate to end youth homelessness by 2020, HUD released some youth specific documents in the past month. These documents include " Children and Youth and HUD’s Homeless Definition ." In this document, readers can find outlines and summaries of the four categories of HUD Homelessness assistance program eligibility. A letter regarding HUD's work with youth homelessness has also been issued. HUD also recently released their 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report . According to the National Network for Youth and others, this report includes "misleading data" - you can read a press release from national organizations  here. The National Network for Youth is offering organizations and ...

Homelessness is an issue that we see often at PathWays PA. Our residential programs work with homeless families and girls to give them an opportunity to stabilize their lives.  As this policy brief from People's Emergency Center shows, the need for such services is growing. This policy brief, based on reports from the National Center for Homeless Education, the United States General Accounting Office, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, shows that the number of children and youth experiencing homelessness has now exceeded 1.26 million. Some of the other findings include: In 2013 19,459 children and youth in Pennsylvania experienced homelessness. The number of homeless students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade increased nationally by 8% between 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. Most homeless students are living doubled up with other families, not in shelters or in the outdoors. Read the full report  here. Interested in PathWays PA blog po...

Project HOME is beginning to collect names of the homeless who have passed away and will be remembered this year. Please start collecting those names, and pass them, along with all helpful information, to Kaitlyn Snyder at kaitlynsnyder@projecthome.org or 215-232-7272, ext. 3031. Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 9/11/14 - The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act May Move Soon! 7/14/14 - Film and Discussion on the Immigration Crisis Tomorrow at 7PM 7/9/14 - CMS Hosting FREE Health Insurance Marketplace Workshop August 14

Right now in the United States , homeless youth are at high risk of being victimized, exploited, or coerced into human trafficking. Many also find themselves involved in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare system. To stem the tide of abuse and victimization, The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would help create appropriate, accessible trauma-informed services that can provide health, healing, and a safe haven for homeless children and teens. Here in the Philadelphia region, runaway and homeless girls can get help right now through a number of organizations, including PathWays PA. Our Basic Center program provides residential facilities for five runaway/homeless girls between ages 13-17 and an after-school drop-in program for residents and non-residents. To learn more about the Basic Center Program, please contact the Basic Center at 215-397-4287. From our friends at the National Network for Youth: S. 2646, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Traf...