November 18, 2011 - The Homeless Advocacy Project and PECO Present a Free Birth Certificate Clinic

The Homeless Advocacy Project and PECO Present a Free Birth Certificate Clinic

When: Friday, November 18, 2011 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Where: Project H.O.M.E., 1515 Fairmount Avenue, (Backspace), Philadelphia, PA 19130
Who: Open (and free of charge) to homeless individuals and families and those at risk of homelessness

Birth certificates are often needed to receive medical assistance, housing and other public benefits, to obtain a Pennsylvania driver’s or nondriver’s license, for access to many public buildings, for general identification and for many other purposes.

Homeless individuals who attend this free clinic will meet with an advocate who will request birth certificates for them and their minor children free of charge.

For additional information, please contact Homeless Advocacy Project at 215-523-9595 or visit us at www.homelessadvocacyproject.org

CFED and National Partners Launch New Bank On Website and Release the First Local Unbanked Population Data Tool

CFED, with collaboration from the US Department of the Treasury and in partnership with the the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment, the New America Foundation and the National League of Cities, announces the launch of a new Bank On website. JoinBankOn.org was originally developed by the Treasurer of the City and County of San Francisco to share information and resources from the Bank on San Francisco initiative of 2006.

The website serves as a place where the national community of Bank On initiatives, organizations and individuals can share resources and information supporting financial access for low-and moderate-income Americans. The website includes several new and exciting features including the Research Your Community tool, which allows users to get maps and estimates on the number of unbanked and underbanked households in their local communities. (“Unbanked” refers to someone who does not have a checking or savings account, while an “underbanked” person is someone who has an account, but still relies on other financial services such as payday loans, check cashing services, pawn shops, etc. which often end up depleting financial resources.)

October 22, 2011 is National Make A Difference Day
10AM to 2PM 2011

This is the Biggest Year Yet! We have DOUBLED the number of volunteer sites!

Therefore, we need YOU. Families, friends, and co-workers come serve with us on Saturday, October 22nd for our 18th Annual Philly Cares Day.

Register at the link below: https://sites.google.com/a/gpcares.org/2011phillycaresday/

Urban Affairs Coalition Releases New Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide

As the national foreclosure crisis has continued to devastate families and communities across the Philadelphia region, the Urban Affairs Coalition has released a new edition of  the Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide. The guide is intended to help residents, housing counselors, lawyers and mortgage lenders better understand and navigate the foreclosure process.  To view the Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide Summer/ Fall 2011 click here.

Teen Parenting Classes

If you are a teen parent aged 13-21, please come to our Teen Parenting Classes at 3617 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA on Mondays from 4-6 PM. Children are welcome, and we will have tokens and light refreshments available. Participants can learn how to improve their parenting skills, hear how other teens handle parenting, learn how to increase your communications with your child, and have an opportunity to help other teen parents by sharing your experiences. Call 215-549-2686 for more information.

New Co-Pay Scale for Child Care Works Effective October 2011

On September 13th, DPW released the new Child Care Works co-pay scale in accordance with mandated savings of $16 million from the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The parameters laid out in the budget bill stated that a new minimum co-pay of $5 would be set in place (although the Department may waive this in some cases), that the co-pays could be per family or per child and the new co-pays cannot exceed 8% of family income for families living at 100% of the federal poverty level or 11% of family incomes for families who live above 100% of the federal poverty level. 

Under the new co-pay scale, which will become effective October 3, 2011, states that co- pays are per family, not per child.  We have been told by DPW that co-pays will be waived for families without earned income who are receiving TANF.

Current Child Care Weekly Family Co-Pays vs.

Co-Pays Effective 10-01-11 (Family of Three)

Annual Income % of FPIG	Current Weekly Family Co-Pay	Weekly Family Co-Pay as of 10/1/11	Dollar increase % Increase
48% 8660	5	5	0 0%
60% 11,118	5	10	5 100%
70% 12,971	5	10	5 100%
80% 14,824	10	19	9 90%
90% 16,677	15	25	10 67%
100% 18,530	15	25	10 67%
110% 20,383	20	29	9 45%
120% 22,236	25	33	8 32%
130% 24,089	30	37	7 23%
140% 25,942	35	41	6 17%
150% 27,795	40	46	6 15%
160% 29,648	45	51	6 13.3%
170% 31,501	50	56	6 12%
180% 33,354	55	61	6 11%
190% 35,207	60	66	6 10%
200% 37,060	65	71	6 9.2%
210% 38,913	70	77	7 10%
220% 40,766	75	83	8 10.7%
230% 42,619	75	89	14 19%
235% 43,546	80	89	9 11.3%

New 2011 Delaware County Women's Resource Guide

The 2011 Delaware County Women's Resource Guide, published by The Center Foundation, is a comprehensive list of the phone numbers and emails of organizations that can provide aid and assistance in Delaware County and the surrounding regions. It is subdivided by category to make finding the numbers you need a simple process. While it is focused on resources that would be particularly helpful for women, it also offers information on general services such as housing, healthcare, legal help, and counseling.