Date: February 19, 2025 To: Chairman Schroer and Members, Senate Judiciary Committee From: Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition to SB 196 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our...Lee mas

Date: February 18, 2025 To: Senator Curtis Trent, Chairman, and members of the Senator General Laws Committee From: Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for SB 225 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work, we...Lee mas

Date: February 17, 2025 To: Rep. Christ and members of the House Emerging Issues Committee From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for HB 723 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work, we organize a...Lee mas

Date: February 12, 2025 To: Sen. Schroer, and Members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for SB 218 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all...Lee mas

Date: February 12, 2025 To: Sen. Schroer, and Members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee From: Gwen Smith, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for SB 218 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work,...Lee mas

Date: February 12, 2025To: Representative Don Mayhew and the Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: HB 916 My name is Christine Woody and I am the Food Policy Manager at Empower Missouri. Empower Missouri has spent more than 120 years fighting poverty in Missouri. Today,...Lee mas

Date: February 5, 2025 To: Chairman Myers and Members, House Crime and Public Safety Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: HB 862 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy organization in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our inception,...Lee mas

Date: February 5, 2025 To: Chairman Myers and Members, House Crime and Public Safety Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: HB 314 & HB 389 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy organization in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy....Lee mas

A fresh start after being released from prison and becoming a returning citizen should be an amazing feeling; however, that isn’t the case for many of Missouri’s formerly incarcerated individuals. The reality is that most formerly incarcerated individuals face a major barrier in finding housing and stability. This is an even more challenging experience due...Lee mas