Mission Statement of Voice of the Poor, Diocesan Council of Phoenix

Believing in the dignity of every person, Voice of the Poor supports Catholic social teaching.  Under the direction of the Diocesan Council, we will advocate for justice on behalf of those in need, while educating St. Vincent de Paul members about economic and social issues impacting the poor.

Purpose of a Diocesan Council Legislative Agenda for St. Vincent de Paul:

• Provide a framework for Vincentian advocacy locally.
• Focus advocacy on basic needs (food, housing, health care, income) based on

Catholic social teaching.

• Serve as a guide to Voice of the Poor Committee when recommending legislation or issues to the Diocesan Council for consideration.
• The agenda will be reviewed annually and submitted to the Diocesan Council for approval prior to communication to our members.

Society Position Statements

To date the National Voice of the Poor Committee has produced eight position papers, approved by the National President and Board. These statements are foundation documents for Vincentian advocacy and are posted on the national Voice of the Poor website www.voiceofthepoor.org.

1. A Just Wage for Employees of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (April 2001)
2. Affordable Housing for the Poor (Feb. 2002)
3. Health Care for the Poor (Feb. 2004)
4. Position Statement on Immigration (Sept. 2004)
5. Position Statement on Fair Wages (Sept. 2005)
6. Position Statement on Restorative Justice (Sept. 2006)
7. Position Statement on Predatory Lending (April 2007)
8. Position Statement on Homelessness (Sept. 2007)

Catholic Social Teaching

Vincentians should become familiar with Catholic social teaching as the Church's guide
to advocacy and Part Seven of the Society's Rule addressing the role of Vincentians in civil society. Recommended resources for Conferences are the Society's Serving in Hope videos and workbooks:  Module IV: Our Vincentian Mission and Module V: The Rule.

Voice of the Poor Priority Areas for Advocacy – 2007-2008

Voice of the Poor will continue to follow legislation and budgeting at the local, state and national level and work with decision-makers in areas affecting those we serve.  The Diocesan Council is on record in support of funding for social services for the needy in our state.

The following have been approved by the Diocesan Board for advocacy. VOP may come to the Diocesan Council with new items, limited to 4-5 per year.

Housing and Homelessness

• Advocate for increased availability of Section 8 housing vouchers and other efforts to provide affordable housing for low income Arizonans.
• Increase funding for the Arizona State Housing Trust Fund.
• Support the Continuum of Care model to end homelessness, Housing First, with supportive services for the homeless.
• Support utility assistance programs.
• Support creation of a National Housing Trust Fund.*

Income and Assistance

• Support benefit and assistance programs aiding low income pregnant mothers.
• Advocate for removal of KidCap as part of Arizona's welfare legislation.
• Support job training programs with the goal of improving earning capability.
• Advocate for increased childcare subsidies for working poor families.
• Maintain the Food Stamp program:

Support outreach and education efforts to those eligible for Food Stamps.

• Maintain General Assistance as part of the State budget
• Support efforts to add consumer protection for predatory loans.
• Support creation of credit unions/micro loan programs and budget education.
• Support educational outreach efforts for the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) for eligible working poor families.
• Promote and support legislation to create an Arizona EITC.

Health Care

• Support healthcare for the working poor including Medicaid (AHCCCS) and SCHIP (Kids Care and Kids Care Parents) in Arizona at current eligibility levels

as a minimum.

• Support outreach efforts to enroll eligible persons in low income healthcare programs.
• Support low income prenatal healthcare programs for the protection of the unborn child and mother.

Immigration

• At the national level, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul supports the position of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops who have endorsed  comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to legal status.*
• Monitor the impact of local and state immigration laws on the immigrant population including recommendations to the diocesan council regarding the Society's position.
• Promote passage of the DREAM ACT and AG JOBS legislation.*

Prisoner Re-entry

• Support rehabilitation programs and post release transitional programs designed to reduce recidivism.

Charitable Giving

• Advocate for the removal of the baseline year requirement from the Arizona charitable tax credit for the working poor.

* Federal legislation supported by National SVdP.

Voice of the Poor
Report to the Phoenix Diocesan Board
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
November 28, 2007

We anticipate that this year's Voice of the Poor focus will be one of defense for State- funded social service programs. 

The projected deficit in the State budget is $800 million but some anticipate it may be as high as $1 billion by the end of the year.  The governor has asked all departments to submit lists of potential cuts to her office.  At a recent meeting with DES officials, faith-based and non-profit representatives were told that the governor is determined that cuts not be made in programs serving Arizona's needy population.  However, the governor and members of the legislature do not always agree.

Voice of the Poor's work plan for 2007-2008:

1. Continued outreach to members of the legislature, city officials and staff at local offices of our congressional delegation to keep the needs of the poor visible.
   
   
2. Continued networking/collaboration with other organizations serving Arizona's low income population.  The following meetings were covered in the past month by VOP members:
   
   

   Maricopa County Association of Governments (MAG)      Housing and Homelessness Prison Re-entry issues	Walt Gray
   Health Links/Keogh Health Foundation                             Outreach efforts to AZ's eligible but uninsured	Lucy Howell
   Food Stamp Outreach Training (AZCAA)              (See attached flier for 11/29 training session)	Lucy Howell*
   Basic Needs Coalition/DES Reauthorization	Kathy Jorgensen Julie Douglas
   Valley Interfaith Issues Conference	Frank Barrios Inge Casey Walt Gray
   Small Dollar Loan Study Group                                       (Alternatives to predatory lending – Rep. Chad Campbell)	Kathy Jorgensen
   LIHEAP (Low Income Heating/Energy Assistance Program) See attached letters re emergency assistance for AZ	Frank Barrios
   Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working poor VITA sites/volunteer tax preparation training	Lucy Howell

   
   
   
3. Ongoing outreach/recruitment for VOP among Conferences. VOP currently has 207 Vincentians    representing 74 Conferences receiving VOP e-mail. An additional 49 members of the community also receive this information. Goal:  Multiple VOP members in every Conference due to the time sensitive nature of alerts.  Our Lady of Joy has 12 members, St. Gregory's has 11 members and St. Thomas Apostle and JP II Special Ministries have 7 members each.

VOP should be a standing item on the agenda of every Conference for a brief report.