Advocacy

Bethesda Family Members:

Thanks to you and many others, safe and secure housing for Philadelphia’s homeless will remain a priority. The City’s efforts will be strengthened by new funding for homeless prevention through economic recovery funds. The City’s funding will also rely on state approval of the temporary one percent sales tax increase. I am gratified that so many of you lent your voices to those who believe that a society is ultimately judged on how it treats its most vulnerable and marginalized citizens. By that standard, you and all the citizens who expressed their views on the Mayor’s budget can be very proud indeed.

Thank you,
ANGELO SGRO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In November of 2008 we were informed by the Office of Supportive Housing that the entire case management budget for Our Brothers’ Place (OBP) shelter would be eliminated effective January 2009. This action was a direct result of reduced tax receipts to the City of Philadelphia resulting from the economic downturn. In addition, we were informed in early January that it might be necessary for Bethesda to absorb further cuts of ten, twenty or thirty percent at OBP as part of further City of Philadelphia cutbacks in the budget for FY 2010.

The Mayor sought input from the citizens of Philadelphia on budget priorities by means of four community meetings that were held in mid-February. Bethesda Project, in partnership with other providers of services to the homeless, undertook a proactive advocacy campaign to inform our supporters of the potential harm to those in our care if we had to endure further cuts. We asked our friends to participate in the community forums and to support our position that it is unacceptable to balance a City budget on the backs of the most vulnerable among us.

My expectations for these forums were low. I didn’t know if our supporters would turn out or write to the Mayor or City Council. At the meetings, we were divided into groups and given the goal to save or raise $200 million. We were asked to first pick cuts that everyone could readily agree upon. We then moved on to “no way, no how,” cuts that most agreed would be unacceptable, and finally to cuts that were arguable. Our group came up with $188 million in cuts or revenue enhancements and, to my utter surprise, the first service on the list of “no way, no how” was housing for the poor. Thanks to you, Mayor Nutter, the Office of Supportive Housing and the City Council are continuing to make safe and secure housing for Philadelphia’s homeless a priority.