The Collaborative Advocacy Network (CAN), a vital component of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative, will host a Day of Advocacy at the state Capitol on Tuesday to outline policy goals and budgetary needs for boosting housing affordability and reinforcing the behavioral health system – two pivotal factors influencing Pennsylvanians’ well-being statewide.
CAN will be joined by Housing Alliance of PA and Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP), along with leaders from Bucks and Montgomery Counties at a press conference in the Rotunda at 10:30 a.m.
“At CAN, our mission is clear: to effect positive change through informed and dedicated advocacy efforts,” said Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative. “Our first ever day of advocacy serves as a rallying cry for all who are passionate about championing affordable housing and a strong behavioral healthcare system in our communities. By coming together in Harrisburg, we amplify our voices to ensure that these issues receive the attention they deserve.”
Post-pandemic, challenges in mental wellness and housing affordability have become critical needs, affecting cities, suburbs, and rural areas across Pennsylvania.
During the Day of Advocacy CAN members and partners, frequently on the frontlines and delivering these essential services directly to residents, will share local narratives highlighting the pressing demands for robust behavioral healthcare and affordable housing with state lawmakers.
“Housing affordability impacts everyone,” said Phyllis Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. “When a household is making a lower wage, it is very difficult to find and keep a home that is affordable to them. This has tremendous impacts on one’s ability to get and keep a good paying job; for children, housing instability can impact their success in school.”
Kimberly Everett, Executive Director of Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership believes the moment to establish parity in mental health provisions has arrived.
“Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year,” she said. “BCHIP is honored to work with the Bucks Mont Collaborative Advocacy Network and their partners to ask our leaders in Bucks County and throughout the state to commit the financial resources and policy changes required to address these needs in our communities,” Everett added.
Established over 25 years ago, the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership, along with Bucks County hospitals, the Bucks County Department of Health and the Bucks County Medical Society collectively shared a vision of improving health in Bucks County. The groups work together to identify service gaps and the resources necessary to effectively address those breaches.
The Bucks-Mont Collaborative is a nonprofit membership organization focused on promoting information and resource sharing, dialogue and collaborative action to achieve impactful outcomes for health and human services issues in Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania. The group comprises 130 nonprofits collectively supporting numerous individuals and families in the region.
The Housing Alliance is a statewide coalition dedicated to providing leadership and a unified voice for policies, practices, and resources aimed at ensuring that all Pennsylvanians, particularly those with low incomes, can access safe, decent, and affordable housing options.
