Action Alert: Help Pine Street Secure Critical Funds

On Monday, April 10, 2017, the House Ways and Means Committee released their recommended state budget.  While there was a modest increase to the line item that funds emergency services for homeless individuals (7004-0102), it was short of the funds needed to assist the 40 organizations across the Commonwealth that provide services like shelter, housing and job training for homeless men and women. We need your help today to convince the House to increase that funding. 

Rep. John Mahoney (D-Worcester) has agreed to file an amendment to the budget that would add critical funds, but he needs other House members to co-sponsor this amendment. We urge you to call your State Representative by noon on Thursday, April 13  and ask him or her to co-sponsor this amendment. 

If you do not know who your State Representative is, go to www.wheredoivotema.com. Just type in your address and you will be brought to a page that will give you that information (towards the bottom of the page). The main phone number for the House of Representatives is 617.722.2000.

When you call (a sample script is below) – you will most likely speak to a legislative aide who is receiving many calls such as yours. Please consider saying something similar to the following:

Hello, my name is <your name> and I live in <your town>.  I support Pine Street Inn in Boston and am calling to ask that <your Rep.’s Name> support an amendment filed by Representative Mahoney  to increase the funding to shelters and programs for homeless individuals across the state.  We are asking that line item 7004-0102 be funded at $50 million, which, when adjusted for inflation, has seen an 8% decrease since 2001. This amendment would add approximately $5 million  for shelter, housing and services for homeless individuals. Will Representative <Rep.’s name> help us out and co-sponsor this amendment?

If yes, tell them they should be in contact with Erik Mayberg  in Rep. Mahoney’s office. Erik can be reached at 617.722.2460.

If they say no, politely thank them for their time (it’s okay to say you’re disappointed).

Last year we were successful in getting enough legislators to sign on to an amendment similar to this, and as a result, the amendment was added, voted on and brought an increase in funding to Pine Street and other providers! We can do this again, so please make a call today!

Thank you!