Virginia Interfaith Center Releases Report on Impact of Safety Net Cuts on Virginians

In April, Half in Ten partners the Virginia Interfaith Center and the Coalition on Human Needs released a joint report on the impact of the U.S. House-passed budget on Virginians. The report outlines which programs would have their funding reduced and what the impact of cuts would be on vulnerable families throughout the commonwealth. A press call with the Center’s CEO and the Coalition’s executive director generated stories in three media outlets and a radio interview with the Center’s CEO.

Copies of the report were sent to the Virginia congressional delegation with requests that they endorse the Half in Ten goal to cut poverty in half in 10 years. Advocates from one of the Virginia Interfaith Center’s local chapters followed up by writing letters to their representatives articulating their concerns with the House budget and why they had endorsed the Half in Ten goal.

This summer the Virginia Interfaith Center will host screenings of “Blank Street,” a film about economic struggles in Virginia and the people experiencing them. The first screening, to be held next month in a local Harrisonburg restaurant, will be co-hosted by the Shenandoah Presbytery and will be followed by a panel discussion about poverty in Virginia and how advocates can work to combat it. The second screening will take place in Arlington in July.

Additionally, the Center will host a Half in Ten fundraiser in Charlottesville next month in an effort to raise awareness about the campaign with grasstops leaders in that community.