The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition was formed in 2008 to serve as a faith-based voice on systemic issues that underlie poverty. With Fighting Poverty with Faith as its moral imperative, the Coalition has attracted over 60 different faith communities and organizations to its ranks.
The power of the Coalition is that it joins together, into one strong voice, all of the many faith and community leaders who feel a true sense of urgency in making a real difference in reducing poverty. We share the same conviction that the level of poverty in Rhode Island is unacceptable. We are coming together to offer support to all of our elected officials with the expectation that working together the alleviation of poverty will be a public policy priority, stated Maxine Richman, co-chairperson of the Rhode Island InterFaith Coalition and a National Board Member of the Jewish Council of Public Affairs.
The faith leaders ask that the elected officials of Rhode Island work for:
" Abatement of hunger and poverty and enactment of policies benefiting the most vulnerable
" Sustainable communities marked by affordable homes, access to good jobs and public safety
" High quality public education for all and universal, affordable and accessible healthcare
" A system of criminal rehabilitation, based on restorative justice
" Full, civil, political and economic rights for women and men of all races
Faith leaders acknowledged the financial difficulties legislative leaders face this upcoming session. Rhode Island, like many other states across the country, is facing a severe financial crisis. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities the majority of the states are faced with significant shortfalls.
We acknowledge that these are difficult times, stated Reverend Dr. Donald Anderson, Executive Minister for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. For some this may seem a time of despair and defeat. As people of faith we believe in a God of hope. All of our traditions speak of the need for people of faith to do battle with the evil causes of poverty. Charity is a good and honorable expression of concern, but God calls us beyond charity to justice.
The Rhode Island InterFaith Coalition continues its call for elected officials in Rhode Island to make a commitment to cut poverty in Rhode Island in half in nine years. In May 2009, the Coalition held a poverty conference that attracted over 250 state community leaders. The conference looked at possible solutions concerning hunger, homelessness, job counseling and creation, and legislative issues. During the year the coalition supported the need to continue the cash assistance program as well as the Neighborhood Opportunity program for housing.
In September 2008, the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition joined a national effort, Fighting Poverty With Faith, endorsed by twenty national faith-based organizations and co-chaired by Catholic Charities USA and The Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The goal of the national project is to elevate the issue of poverty. The objectives of the campaign include:
" Building and strengthening interfaith relationships and mobilization capacity in order to hold the candidates accountable to those commitments once they are elected;
" Marshaling the political and public will to seriously tackle poverty in this country by showing that poverty is a top priority for people of all faiths.
The premise of the national effort is based on the belief that indeed, poverty can be solved with political leadership powered by a citizen movement. As the Fighting Poverty With Faith materials state, Poverty is not a Republican or Democratic issue; it is a moral issue, and if we build the political and public will across different sectors of society, we can solve this blight on our nation.
The Coalition is an advocate for sound legislation and public policies that address the root causes of poverty and that promote economic well-being for all Rhode Islanders.