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Sample Press Release *note: underlined portions denote where you can insert your local information* DATE Contact: your contact people and Michael Stoops, 202.462.4822 Local Organizations Announce Support for Federal Homelessness Legislation Bill Would Help End Homelessness in Our Town and the Nation Today, members of the Our Town coalition gathered at the XX shelter to demonstrate their support for homelessness legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. [OR, if no press event will be held: Today, the Our Town coalition announced their support for homelessness legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.] In the United States, 3.5 million people - almost 40 percent of them children - experience homelessness each year. Many of these individuals work, but due to high rents, tight rental markets, and low paying jobs, they have found themselves living on the streets, in cars, in shelters, in abandoned buildings, in motels, or in over-crowded, temporary accommodations with others. The current economic downturn puts even more Americans one paycheck, one illness, or one rent hike away from homelessness. "Today, a worker making minimum wage cannot afford housing at fair market rent anywhere in the United States. In fact, in our town, a worker must make $x.xx to afford housing. Today, over a million children are without housing -- xxx of them in our town. Today, access to health care is out of reach for many, including at least xx,xxx in our town. Today, approximately 40 percent of men who are homeless served in the armed forces, including an estimated xx in our town," said Jill Doe, Executive Director of Our Town's Homeless Coalition. Add more local statistics about demand for shelter and/or growth in homelessness.* "People experiencing homelessness are working mothers and fathers, older adults who are unable to make ends meet with their social security benefits, children trying to succeed despite their circumstances, teenagers escaping dangerous situations, and veterans who fought for this country," said John Doe, director of our town's largest emergency shelter. Therefore, the Our Town Coalition strongly urges support of the "Bringing America Home Act" (H.R. 4347). This Act was introduced in Congress by Representative Julia Carson (D-IN). If passed, the legislation would provide affordable housing, job training, civil rights protections, vouchers for childcare and public transportation, emergency funds for families facing eviction, increased access to health care for all, and Congressional support for living incomes. The Bringing America Home Act would also provide the critically needed resources to make local and state efforts to end homelessness a reality. "This legislation is crucial to assisting people who are homeless or are near homelessness," said Jill Doe. "It would end the disgrace of the worst form of poverty in the richest nation in the world. "It's time for Americans to take a stand to help our most vulnerable citizens. It's time to Bring America -- and Our Town - Home." *To find data on homelessness and demand for shelter, visit http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/news/press_releases/documents/hunger_121802.asp. |