Under this broad heading are included such issues as housing, employment, income disparity and hunger. In the past 15 years, the average income for the poorest of Washington State’s citizens fell by 4.2% while the incomes of the wealthiest of us rose 11.8%. And recent news reports indicate that local food banks are seeing an increase in use of anywhere from 15-40%. The One Night Count conducted on January 25, 2008 showed a 15% increase from the previous January in the number of people sleeping out-of-homes. This at a time when, for every one low-income rental unit produced in King County, 3-4 such units were lost due to rent increase, condo conversion, speculative sale or demolition. Meanwhile, the average wait for a Section 8 housing voucher (a rent subsidy) has grown to three years.

With your involvement, Temple Beth Am will work to educate, advocate and act upon such concerns. Our goal is to engage our youth and seniors, families and individuals, in embracing a comprehensive approach that encourages our ongoing commitment to making a discernable difference in this arena. Join us!

Recognizing that 1 in 10 American families - and 1 in 20 Jewish families - live in poverty, the Union for Reform Judaism has committed itself to a serious fight against poverty and is embarking on a major initiative to engage Reform Jews throughout North America in efforts to ameliorate poverty. In connection with this initiative, the Reform Movement has launched a website that includes resources, advocacy opportunities, and program ideas on poverty.