Poverty Advocacy
“Poverty is a problem of the whole human community, not only of those who are poor or vulnerable.” -- ELCA Social Statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All
The Bible calls us to recognize poverty as a shared concern and to respond with compassion and justice. Scripture reminds us that caring for those in need is central to living out our faith.
Poverty is more than a lack of income – it often means limited access to basic necessities like food, housing, and healthcare, and it can strip people of dignity and opportunity. In Wisconsin, approximately 11% of residents live below the poverty line, including nearly 13% of children.
Lutherans respond to poverty in many ways: through feeding ministries, community partnerships, and advocacy for systemic change. The Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin (LOPPW) works to address the root causes of poverty by advocating for policies that address the complex causes of poverty, relieve the conditions of poverty, and invest in initiatives to reduce poverty.
Current Action Alerts
February 2026: Tell Your State Senator and Representative to Vote NO On AB-742/Sb-737
The state legislature is considering bills that would remove regulation of rent-to-own transactions from the Wisconsin Consumer Act. These transactions often target vulnerable low-income populations with promises of opportunities to purchase items like televisions or refrigerators on a rent-to-own payment plan that has extremely high interest rates.
AB-742/SB-737 would remove the protections Wisconsinites currently have through the WCA. Learn more about LOPPW’s engagement on this issue here.
Call or email your state representative and senator to tell them that you are concerned about these bills and urge them to vote NO. Sample scripts are below.
Find your representative and senator’s contact information here.
Sample call script:
“Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m a constituent who lives in [your town/city]. I’m calling to ask [name of senator or representative] to vote NO on Assembly Bill 742/Senate Bill 737.
This bill would remove rent-to-own transactions from the Wisconsin Consumer Act, which is designed to protect consumers in our state. Rent-to-own companies often market to low-income residents but charge very high interest rates. It’s important to regulate these transactions careful so that people are not exploited.
Please vote NO on this bill.”
Sample email script:
Dear [name of elected official],
I’m a constituent who lives in [your town/city]. I’m writing to ask you to vote NO on Assembly Bill 742/Senate Bill 737.
This bill would remove rent-to-own transactions from the Wisconsin Consumer Act, which is designed to protect consumers in our state. Rent-to-own companies often market to low-income residents but charge very high interest rates. It’s important to regulate these transactions careful so that people are not exploited.
Please vote NO on this bill. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
