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Community Justice Project |
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Improving the Lives of Low Income Pennsylvanians |
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Harrisburg Office 118 Locust St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 236-9486 (phone) (717) 233-4088 (fax) 1-800-322-7572 (toll free)
Pittsburgh Office Suite 1705 429 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 434-6002 (phone) (412) 434-5706 (fax) 1-866-482-3076 (toll free)
Hispanic Outreach Offices (Ayuda en Español)
Pittsburgh Suite 1705 429 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 434-6176 (office) (412) 715-1750 (cell) (412) 434-5706 (fax)
Reading c/o Centro Hispano 501 Washington St. Reading, PA 19601 (610) 741-7995 (phone) (610) 372-2619 (fax)
Hazleton 2 East Broad Street Room 204 Hazleton, PA 18201 (570) 582-5816 (phone) (570) 459-5815 (fax)
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Public Benefits |
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The Community Justice has long been involved in public benefits advocacy, with a particular focus on helping families receiving welfare or in low-wage employment gain the skills and education needed to obtain employment in high demand, well paying occupations and move from poverty and reliance on public assistance to self-sufficiency. We have done impact work -- including class action litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy -- to influence state welfare agency policies so as to better assist families seeking to improve their earning capacity and living standard. Some examples of this work include advocacy to:
· Overhaul restrictive regulations governing the state’s subsidized child care program, a support critical to parents pursing education or working. · Advise and work with the state welfare agency in establishing a statewide program, a partnership between Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare and the state 14 community colleges, to encourage and assist welfare parents in attending community college. · Change state welfare policies so as to expand access to English-as-a Second Language (ESL) for Limited English Proficient parents receiving welfare and to improve the qualify and effectiveness of ESL instruction · Advise and work with the state welfare agency in developing “Family Violence” policies to improve access to welfare and welfare to work education and training programs for victims of domestic violence. |