Non-Profits Gear Up to Fight Safety Net Cuts

The Safety Net Coalition, a grouping of Washington-area non-profits, is holding a community forum on Wednesday night with the three County Council Members on the Health and Human Services Committee to protest impending social services cuts. At-large County Council candidate Becky Wagner is the Executive Director of Interfaith Works, one of the coalition members. Following is their press release.

Update: One of the three Council Members attending the forum is Roger Berliner, who left the HHS Committee last year.

The Safety Net Coalition: One Voice for the Vulnerable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Warren Hansen, whansen@iworksmc.org

March 8, 2010

MEDIA ADVISORY

SAFETY NET COALITION TO HOST COMMUNITY FORUM

--Nonprofits to Urge County Officials Not to Cut Critical Social Services--

ROCKVILLE, MD – As County Executive Leggett prepares to unveil his Fiscal Year 2011 budget on March 15, the Safety Net Coalition of Montgomery County will host a Community Forum this Wednesday, March 10, where they will urge elected officials to protect funding for critical health and human services, as demand for assistance continues to rise due to effects of the recession. The Coalition is a broad, grassroots network of more than 65 nonprofits in the county that provide assistance to its most vulnerable residents.

With other local jurisdictions across the Washington-metro region also currently working on their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, board executives of Montgomery nonprofits, service providers on the frontlines and individuals who have received assistance will provide personal testimony about why funding nonprofits remains critical, even as governments are tightening their belts for another year.

In doing so, nonprofit officials and members of the community will highlight the increasing importance of safety net services as more people are affected by the economic downturn, with job losses impacting families and individuals of all socio-economic levels with little recovery in sight.

For more information about the Safety Net Coalition, including a list of member organizations, visit our Web site at http://safetynetcoalition.org.

WHO: Safety Net Coalition members, Individuals who have received services, Councilmember Roger Berliner, Councilmember George Leventhal, Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg

WHAT: Community Forum

WHERE: County Council Office Building Hearing Room, 3rd Floor, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD

WHEN: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 7 to 9 p.m.