Yellow PagesResidents ask township to reconsider shelter cuts
- Original The Morning Call article: Residents ask township to reconsider shelter cuts
About a dozen Bethlehem Township residents, including one with a petition signed by more than 60 others, asked commissioners Monday night to reconsider cutting funding to homeless shelters this year.
The effort is part of an ongoing campaign by the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley and other homeless advocates to pressure the township. After years of being a top contributor to the Valley's nine shelters, commissioners cut funding completely this year.
''Please reconsider,'' said township resident Mish Ganssle. ''Our community has a responsibility to the citizens of this county. The township is not an island and we are not a gated community.''
Others expressed similar sentiments, including one resident who said she came as a former victim of domestic violence to support the shelters, particularly one for battered women and their children. Resident Fred Hoffert said he came on behalf of Epworth United Methodist Church in the township with a petition signed by 63 people.
Each year, the CACLV asks suburban municipalities to support the more than 2,500 people housed in the area's nine shelters in Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown .
Last year, Bethlehem Township cut its contribution to $5,000, about half of what it gave the year prior and almost a third of what it gave in 2005. The cutbacks were part of what commissioners President Thomas Nolan called a phasing out of funding for the shelters that coincided with a revenue slump in the wake of slowed growth.
Last month developer and township resident Abraham Atiyeh pledged to give $5,000 to make up for the funding cuts. As an incentive, he promised to match the township's contribution next year and those of residents up to a total of $20,000.
Commissioners remained largely silent. Nolan, thanked residents for their comments. After the meeting he said he would consider their concerns when the budget was looked at again next year.
veronica.torrejon@mcall.com 610-861-3634
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