Budget woes affect nonprofits
By Greg Bock, gbock@altoonamirror.comAs the state budget battle grinds on in Harrisburg, a lack of funds has shut down Blair Senior Services housing assistance program.
The nonprofit organization, which was expected to receive $241,000 from the state's Homeless Assistance Program through the county, laid off two people Wednesday morning and began referring people to private sector organizations, particularly Catholic Charities.
Blair Senior Services helped county residents with nearly $100,000 last year, aiding nearly 1,500 people with housing costs such as rent and utilities.
The organization also relies on the Human Services Development Fund to pay for the program, in which caseworkers evaluate the eligibility of clients for assistance.
As the program's director Dennis Wisor pointed out, the program is designed to keep people who are struggling financially in their homes.
"At this point, we're trying to figure out what can be done," Wisor said, adding that the HAP program funds are tied to the agency's other county, state and federal funding.
Compounding the immediate lack of funds is the fear that state cuts could jeopardize the future of the program.
"If they cut the Housing Assistance Program, we will not be able to operate the program," he added.
Jean Johnstone, executive director of Catholic Charities, said by Wednesday afternoon, nine people already had contacted the charitable arm of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown to seek help with housing issues.
Johnstone said Catholic Charities, which doesn't use state funding, will work to help as many people as it can, but said because of limited staffing and resources, people shouldn't wait until it is too late before asking for help.
She said the organization is prioritizing cases, with the homeless and those who need emergency medication or food vouchers at the top of the list.
On Wednesday, the lowest of the nine requests was for $275 and the highest was $1,100, she said. Typically, the charity distributes only $2,500 a month.
It's these requests, she said, that were critical because they are typically working people who are behind on rent or utility bills. Without help, they will end up homeless - a much costlier and daunting situation for area human services.
Until Blair Senior Services resumes the state-funded HAP, Johnstone said Catholic Charities will try to help as many people as possible. But with its present resources, how long that can go on remains a question.
"We're trying to hold the safety net, but the longer it goes, the scarier it gets," Johnstone said.
County Human Services Director Cathy Crum said until the state's lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell come up with a budget, it's just a matter of waiting. On Friday, she pointed out, the governor proposed cutting both programs - HAP by 10.1 percent and HSDF by 10.5 percent.
Crum said those cuts would equal about $36,000 each. That would translate into across-the-board cuts for area agencies that receive state funding like Blair Senior Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Blair County and Blair County Children and Youth Services.
The lack of a budget has already forced the county to shift two workers from human services to other departments where there are staffing needs. Crum said at least through July, those workers still have a job.
Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7446.
|
Aces20
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-02-09 7:55 AM
|
Notice how there is NO talk coming out of Harrisburg about cutting legislative personnel, salaries, and benefits by any percent as a way to save the Commonwealth money?? I'd like to see the Mirror ask Rendell, Scarnati, Eichelberger, Stern, and Geist why that is.
|
|
maddog
|
|
|
07-02-09 6:31 AM
|
They are cutting all of the services but they are building a bike path from downtown Altoona to the Penn State Altoona campus. Get your priorities in order.
|