17 Jun Day of Advocacy in Harrisburg
On June 2, Family Promise joined the Bucks-Mont Collaborative and more than 100 nonprofit leaders for a Day of Advocacy in Harrisburg. Advocacy is at the heart of Family Promise’s commitment to families as we work to address the root causes of housing and food insecurity.
Our advocacy efforts are grounded in the lived experiences of the families we serve. Throughout the day, 13 staff members met with our state legislators and their teams to share what we are seeing in Montgomery County, highlighting how systems can sometimes fall short or create unintended barriers and how even a single eviction notice can have long-term consequences for a family. Stories shared with legislators also focused on Family Promise’s prevention, stabilization, and diversion strategies that help families stay in their homes, while underscoring the critical need for increased rental assistance funding and more affordable housing to support long-term housing stability. We also emphasized the growing need for food, as our pantry served 56 families in just one day seeking essential groceries and household items, reflecting the impact of rising costs and ongoing uncertainty about paying rent.
On the steps of the Capitol, Blessing, IHN Volunteer and Advocacy Coordinator at Family Promise, drew on her own experience of childhood homelessness in Montgomery County to make the case for urgent legislative action. “Every legislator I have spoken with today says they support affordable housing. I believe them,” shared Blessing. “But belief without action does not keep families housed. We need your votes and we need your dollars. Housing is a human right, and no one deserves to be stigmatized or criminalized for a failing system.”
LEARN MORE
Together, we can help shape policies that create stronger, healthier communities. You can take action today:
- Find out about and urge your legislator to cosponsor the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act which would provide children and families with access to life-saving assistance and improve federal data.
- Stay informed with Family Promise National advocacy resources.
- Follow the latest updates on housing issues with the National Alliance to End Homelessness
Thank you for standing with Family Promise and the families we serve. Together, we are creating stability and hope.
Marsha Eichelberger
Chief Executive Officer