Statement from National President Mike King Regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 27 Decision to Uphold The Affordable Care Act
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Vicki Bendure
Office (540) 687-3360; Cell (202) 374-9259
Vicki@Bendurepr.com
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 27, 2012) – Volunteers of America applauds the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold The Affordable Care Act and supports any effort to provide quality health care to all people. Many of our clients are the “working poor” with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who are also not provided health insurance through their employers. These Americans are most affected by our nation’s overly expensive and complex health care system.
Volunteers of America is one of the leading providers of affordable housing and services to low-income families and individuals in the United States, serving almost 2.5 million vulnerable people each year. As a faith-based human service charity, our top priority remains the needs of our clients to live independent, happy and successful lives. One key to reaching that goal is to make sure all low- and moderate-income people have access to high-quality, effective health care.
We will continue to work in coalition with other human service providers, both at the state and federal levels, to protect Medicaid funding that provides care to our nation’s most vulnerable, and to ensure that protections remain intact. There are both moral and fiscal reasons to preserve heath care services. If necessary care is taken away or delayed, those in most need will end up sicker and require the most costly care. This ultimately will harm the future economic health of communities and the entire country.
Facts about Volunteers of America services for low-income families and individuals:
- Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps almost 2.5 million people annually in more than 400 communities nationwide.
- Volunteers of America is one of the largest nonprofit developers and providers of affordable housing in the United States. We own and operate more than 370 affordable housing properties in 40 states and Puerto Rico.
- Our nationwide portfolio has grown to more than 17,000 affordable housing units. We house nearly 25,000 people each year, including families and the working poor.
- Volunteers of America is a major provider of skilled long-term nursing care and health services to low-income people. We operate nursing facilities, residential assisted-living complexes and retirement communities.
- Volunteers of America has a long history of providing basics like food and clothing to low-income people in crisis. For instance, the Snohomish County Food Bank Distribution Center in Washington State serves more than 12,000 families each month, and more than 3 million pounds of food is distributed each year. The Volunteers of America Colorado Branch City Harvest Food Bank in Denver serves more than 20,000 individuals and 900,000 pounds of food each year.
