Rep. Nancy Pelosi Secures Funding for San Francisco Program Helping Underserved Women with Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Fund
Monday, 3 March 2003

The Breast Cancer Fund Granted $325,000 to Expand Services for the LifeLines Program at Shanti

The Breast Cancer Fund has received $325,000 in federal funding thanks to advocacy spearheaded by Representative Nancy Pelosi (D- CA), House Minority Leader, to support the LifeLines program at Shanti, which provides practical support services for underserved women facing breast cancer. The funding will allow LifeLines to expand its services in San Francisco and to generate a model for communities around the country to adopt.

"LifeLines is a beacon of hope for women suffering with this terrible disease," said Representative Nancy Pelosi. "Working in collaboration with organizations like The Breast Cancer Fund and Shanti, the federal government must do all it can to ensure access to care. This program creates a model that other communities across the country can emulate."

LifeLines, started in 2002 as a joint project of The Breast Cancer Fund and Shanti, was established to serve lower-income women struggling with breast cancer by reducing obstacles and barriers that prevent access to health care, and providing practical support services that enable women to maintain treatment. The program, currently managed and housed at Shanti, offers everything from emergency housing funds to transportation to and from medical appointments.

"It is heartbreaking to know that women could lose their lives simply because they can't access programs and treatments that are available to other women fighting the same illness," said Jeanne Rizzo, executive director of The Breast Cancer Fund, which partnered with Shanti to create the program in response to the breast cancer crisis. "LifeLines begins to eliminate this disparity of treatment and offers a compassionate solution to help women with breast cancer. We're thrilled that this program will thrive thanks to Representative Pelosi's support."

LifeLines currently serves over 100 women in San Francisco, 75 percent of whom are women of color. Thirty percent of clients utilize the transportation service, and over 1,500 meals have been delivered to clients. Almost half the women utilize the city of San Francisco's Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, primarily for rent and utility bills.

"Shanti pioneered peer support for people facing life threatening illness 30 years ago" said Hywel Sims, executive director of Shanti. "We're proud that Representative Pelosi recognizes our unique work, as this support will allow us to serve more people with breast cancer in San Francisco and create a model for the nation."

One in eight American women are affected by breast cancer, but low-income women and women of color are dying in disproportionate numbers because they often do not receive adequate treatment. The state and federal governments have agreed to fund care for uninsured and underinsured women, but funds alone won't guarantee that low-income women access the care they need.

Prior to The Breast Cancer Fund and Shanti's partnership, no private programs existed to reduce the barriers to accessing care or close the gaps in providing adequate practical support services to underserved women ill with breast cancer. The federal funding is intended to allow LifeLines to develop a model that will be adopted by communities nationwide.

Lifelines provides in-home meal delivery; in-home volunteers who will provide emotional and practical support such as grocery shopping, light house-keeping, appointment making, etc.; social service referrals and resources; transportation to and from medical appointments and support groups; and temporary emergency funds, covering such costs as rent and child care.

The Breast Cancer Fund is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify — and advocate for elimination of — the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease. Founded in 1992, TBCF works from the knowledge that breast cancer is not simply a personal tragedy, but a public health priority that demands action from all. TBCF tirelessly fights to challenge the myths and perceptions surrounding breast cancer while providing inspiration to the women who suffer from the disease. Through public education, prevention and public policy initiatives; outdoor challenges including major mountain climbs; art exhibits and other innovative campaigns, TBCF mobilizes the public and secures the institutional changes and legislative reforms necessary to eliminate the environmental links to breast cancer.

Shanti is a pioneering nonprofit which specializes in providing expert assistance to individuals living with life-threatening illnesses through direct services and highly-trained peer support volunteers. Founded in 1974 with the original mission of assisting cancer patients, Shanti now provides services and training to a diverse group of individuals and organizations through its five divisions: HIV/AIDS Services — compassionate professional and volunteer assistance to men and women living with HIV/AIDS; LifeLines — an innovative continuum of support for women living with breast cancer; The L.I.F.E. Institute — immune-boosting education for people living with life-threatening illnesses; the Shanti National Training Institute — training and consultation to organizations wanting to implement new or improve existing volunteer programs; and Transportation Services — van rides for clients to and from medical and other necessary appointments provided by drivers trained in Shanti's emotional support methods. Shanti continues its role as one of California's leading nonprofits in its area of expertise, employing 50 staff, managing 250 volunteers, and serving 500 clients each day.

For more information, or to contact Breast Cancer Fund, see their website at: www.breastcancerfund.org