Local Churches Advocate for Budget Choices Through Good Faith Communities Coalition

Tuesday the District Council passed the fiscal 2012 budget, the mayor signed off on the budget and it is now before Congress for approval. In the lead up to the budget process, a group of Georgetown and other local churches banded together to advocate for homeless services and for a tax increase on those who can afford to pay more.

Though Mayor Vincent Gray's budget included tax increases, it would have severely cut funding for homeless services. The final budget passed Tuesday did not include a tax increase, but did restore some funding to homeless services.

Prior to this final outcome, the Good Faith Communities Coalition's 160 members were very active in meeting, speaking with and writing letters, petitions, emails, etc. to members of the District Council about the budget.

Coalition members urged the council to approve Gray's proposed tax increases on the wealthiest residents and preserve the funding for programs and services that support the needs of homeless people in the District, according to Susan Watson, a member of .

The Rev. John Graham of said when the coalition first met in October 2010, they discussed how they "might, as churches working together, advocate for our homeless friends and neighbors."

One of the key points the coalition tried to get across to members was that "the wealthiest residents of the city can afford and do support a tax increase in lieu of reduced support and services for the city's neediest," said Watson.

This argument is based on a Hart Associates telephone poll of 504 registered D.C. voters on April 20-22 in Wards 2 and 3 (the wealthiest in D.C.). From those voters, 111 people were polled and 91 percent supported raising the income tax rate from 8.5 to 8.9 percent.

Graham said he understands how some District residents and perhaps even members of the District Council could worry that programs intended to be short-term help would turn into "entitlement" programs.

When you help people, "you take that risk, I don’t think there’s any doubt that that happens, but I think we can try to reduce that sense of dependency," said Graham.

During meetings with various members of the council, Graham said the coalition members tried to make it clear that "we are here and ready to help with reforms and changes."

But he, added, "I don't think a continuing recession with 25 percent unemployment rates in Wards 7 and 8 is a time to pull back on those commitments."

, , , , , Epiphany Catholic Church,  were among the D.C. churches in the coalition.

Many of the coalition members are part of the Washington Interfaith Network, said Graham, and their efforts are "part of a broader district wide network" of churches advocating for a fair budget.

"We love our city and we love Georgetown and we believe they are great places to live and raise a family. We want to be proud of the way our community and city address the needs of its neediest," said Watson.