SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS

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In every faith, respecting the role and place of elders is part of our tradition. Help the Area Agencies on Aging to be faithful to those who have toiled before us.

The Problem:
The Virginia Department for the Aging determined that in each month of 2004, 151,500 meals were needed by Virginia’s seniors but not served because there were not enough funds to cover the costs of food and transportation. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s 2004 report on the impact of the aging population on state services also documents the level of unmet need reported by the Area Agencies on Aging. [In 2002, 129,000 meals were needed but not delivered, and in 2003, that number rose to 139,000.]

Background:
Virginia’s 25 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) serve every locality in Virginia with a comprehensive array of home and community-based services for older Virginians. These services, including home-delivered meals, allow Virginia’s seniors to stay at home and out of nursing homes and assisted living facilities – a cost savings to the Virginia budget.

The costs of AAAs services are supported by a combination of federal, state, local, and private dollars.

Meals on Wheels is the AAA program that serves the most basic need of Virginia’s frail elderly, persons who suffer from chronic and debilitating illnesses, and others who need temporary respite while recovering from surgery.

A 36% increase in Virginia’s senior population this decade, rising meal and transportation costs, combined with state funding cuts, have resulted in long waiting lists and cuts in service. The AAA’s have streamlined services, cut costs, and leveraged funding but the need continues to grow. For example, Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging, was forced to reduce the meals provided to needy seniors to one meal per day. For many, this is the only meal they will eat in a day.

The Solution:
Based on the analysis by JLARC and VDA above, the cost to address the 2004 unmet need of 151,500 home delivered meals each month, based on the current statewide average of $4.00 per home-delivered meal, is $606,000 per month or $7.3 million annually. Reinforcing home and community based services will insure that Virginia is prepared to support her seniors.

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Bulletin Inserts
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Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

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