Abortion Liberation Fund of PA
In 1985, Pennsylvania cut off Medicaid funding for abortion. Abortion Liberation Fund PA (formerly known as the Women’s Medical Fund of PA) was started that year, because the right to abortion is meaningless for those who cannot afford to pay for it. It supports those living in poverty who need abortion care today by providing counseling and emergency financial assistance. It support individuals always by working to expand and equalize access to abortion through lifting the insurance bans and eliminating other barriers.
Since its inception, it has provided assistance to over 35,000 people struggling to make ends meet in Southeastern Pennsylvania, empowering them to exercise their decision to have an abortion.
In 2019, NIRH worked with Abortion Liberation Fund (formerly Women’s Medical Fund) to grow their grassroots base via the Philadelphia Reproductive Freedom Collective and strengthen their relationships with city councilmembers and partner organizations that advocate for reproductive, racial, and economic justice, with the goal of creating a municipal fund for abortions in Philadelphia. In 2016, Abortion Liberation Fund successfully advocated for passage of a Philadelphia City Council resolution supporting the EACH Woman Act and calling on the state to lift insurance bans on abortion during the United for Abortion Coverage Week of Action. Through this process, they mobilized their supporters, developed relationships with City Council members and staff, acquired knowledge of the City Council legislative process, and raised the visibility of Abortion Liberation Fund as a voice for reproductive rights in Philadelphia. Abortion Liberation Fund developed a campaign with grassroots supporters and social justice allies to urge passage of a resolution supporting insurance coverage of abortion by the Philadelphia City Council. This effort built on the unanimous passage of a resolution in support of insurance coverage of abortion passed by the Philadelphia Board of Health in 2013. This project was conducted in partnership with Women’s Way.
The Abortion Liberation Fund is also part of a cohort of organizations in Pennsylvania on a long-term initiative to develop and advance an abortion rights vision, engage a new and broad base of supporters, and reduce shame and stigma by publicly promoting the affirmative value of abortion.