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Oregon Religious Leaders To Wyden, Merkley: Help Homeless Kids In School

December 20, 2009

 

The Honorable Ron Wyden

The Honorable Jeff Merkley

 

Dear Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley: 


As leaders of faith communities in Oregon deeply concerned with the needs of homeless children, we are writing to ask you both to sign-on as co-sponsors of S. 2800 and S. 2801.  These two pieces of legislation would provide critically needed educational opportunities for homeless youth and children in foster care.

As you know, on Sept. 18th, 2009, State Superintendent of Schools, Susan Castillo, announced that the number of homeless students in Oregon public schools during the 2008-2009 school year had risen 14% from the previous year, and totaled 18,059 students who were homeless for some or all of the school year.  The first academic year that Oregon conducted a statewide count of homeless students in the public schools was 2003-04, and in that year the count identified 8,143 homeless students.  The number has increased every year since, and currently stands 122% above the 2003-04 levels. 

On Thursday, November 19, US Senators Patty Murray and Al Franken introduced the "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, and the "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801. 

The "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, amends the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and other related titles of the ESEA. S. 2800 makes a strong law even stronger by reinforcing and expanding its key provisions, including school stability, enrollment, and support for academic achievement. S. 2800 also expands authorized funding to meet transportation needs.

The "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801, establishes a new education program to ensure that all children and youth in foster care have school stability, immediate school access, and support for academic success. S. 2801 encourages collaboration across education and child welfare agencies to cover the cost of transportation to enable foster youth to continue in their school of origin when it is in their best interest, with ultimate responsibility for the cost of transportation on child welfare agencies when necessary. S. 2801 requires school districts to collaborate with child welfare agencies to facilitate transportation in a cost-effective manner.

Oregon children would greatly benefit from both these pieces of legislation.  As Oregon’s faith community works to alleviate homelessness through faith-based shelters, support services, fund raising, and advocacy we need the immediate assistance of our two senators as co-sponsors of S. 2800 and S. 2801.  

Please contact Rev. Chuck Currie at 971-322-7920 or [email protected] with any additional questions.

Sincerely,


The Rev. Chuck Currie

United Church of Christ Minister

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. Arvin Luchs

Senior Minister

First United Methodist Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin

Temple Beth Israel

Eugene, Oregon 

 

The Rev. Dr. Ian Doescher

Pastor

Calvary Presbyterian Church

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. David L. Wheeler

First Baptist Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Wajdi Said

President and Co-Founder

Muslim Educational Trust

Portland, Oregon

 

Rania Ayoub

Director of Public Relations

Muslim Educational Trust

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. Thomas English

St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Jail and Prison Ministry)

Eugene, Oregon

 

Dr. Rex Hagans

Member, Public Policy Committee

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

 

The Rev. Cecil Charles Prescod, OCC

Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries

Ainsworth United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Reverend Stephen Schafroth, Deacon

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

The Dalles, Oregon

Council, Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon

Deputy, General Convention of The Episcopal Church

 

The Rev. Ryan J. Lambert

Associate Pastor

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

Corvallis, Oregon

 

Eric Cannon

Chair

Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

Washington County, Oregon

 

Sister Mary Kay Lampert

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Portland, Oregon

 

Sister Rosemary Anne Parker

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Portland, Oregon

 

Jan Elfers

Director of Member Relations

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

 

The Rev. Dr. Daniel E. H. Bryant

Senior Minister

First Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

Eugene, Oregon

 

The Rev. Mary Sue Evers

Minister

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

The Rev. Kate Lore

Social Justice Minister

First Unitarian Church

Portland, Oregon

 

Mira Conklin

Hispanic/Latino Ministry Developer,

Western Washington County Hispanic/Latino Ministries

The United Methodist Church

 

The Rev. Eugene Ross

Retired Conference Minister,

Central Pacific Conference

United Church of Christ

 

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ross

Retired Senior Minister

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. John  Boonstra

Pastor

Bethel United Church of Christ

White Salmon

 

The Rev. Dr. Dennis Johnson

Eugene, Oregon

 

Linda Ebert

Co-Chair Social Justice Committee

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

Pastor Matthew Eagan

Calvary Lutheran Church

Hillsboro, Oregon

 

The Rev. Vicky Stifter

Riverside Community Church (United Church of Christ)

Hood River, Oregon

 

The Rev. Charlie Ross

Pastor Emeritus

Parkrose Community

United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

The Rev. John Reutter-Harrah

Prince of Life Lutheran Church

Oregon City, Oregon

 

Judy Boncaro

Office Manager

Meridian United Church of Christ

Wilsonville, Oregon

 

The Rev. Patricia Berger

Pastor

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Gresham, Oregon

 

Dr. Russ Dondero

Member, United Church of Christ, Forest Grove

Member, Interfaith Committee on Homelessness

Professor Emeritus, Pacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon

 

Bruce R. Poinsette

Moderator-Elect

Central Pacific Conference United Church of Christ

 

Brenda Kame'enui

Justice and Witness Committee

First Congregational United Church of Christ

Eugene, Oregon

 

Elaine Nelson

Social and Environmental Action Committee of the

Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County

 

Deborah G. Knudson

Member

First Congregational United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Evelyn Lamon

Member

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Beaverton, Oregon

 

Don Johnson

Member, Social Action Team

Zion United Church of Christ

Gresham, Oregon

 

Blair Loudat

Member

Parkrose Community United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Heidi Evans

Member

Cedar Hills United Church of Christ

Portland, Oregon

 

Corliss Marsh

Layperson

First Congregational United Church of Christ

The Dalles, Oregon


Annie Heart

Family Bridge Shelter 

Washington County, Oregon

 

*Organizational affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.  

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