|
202-842-2092
www.ncaf.org
February 6, 2006 Press
Release:
Bush's Budget Proposal
Would Devastate Community
Action Agency Local Services
WASHINGTON
(Feb 6, 2006) – President
Bush’s 2007 Budget proposal
will shut down the unique
local initiatives of the
nation’s 1,100 Community
Action Agencies (CAAs) by
terminating the Community
Services Block Grant (CSBG).
It is the largest HHS
program on the termination
list.
Congress
firmly rejected the same
initiative last year; just
last week, 140 Members of
Congress signed a joint
letter to the President to
express their support for
maintaining CSBG funding.
The National Community
Action Foundation (NCAF),
which represents CAAs in
Washington, will again lead
the fight to keep CSBG
intact.
The Community
Services Block Grant gives
the CAAs, a $10 billion
network of community-based,
community-run anti-poverty
organizations, the resources
to mobilize local volunteers
and funds to shape
strategies that are tailored
to reduce poverty in the
specific locality.
“The need for
Community Action resources
has never been greater, and
it is growing,” NCAF
Executive Director David
Bradley said. “The
population eligible for CSBG
services – those with
incomes at or below 125
percent of poverty – has
increased by more than 1.6
million people in just two
years. Most of the newly
poor are workers with
low-wage jobs and their
children.
“Rural
communities, already
suffering from extreme
economic strains, will lose
disproportionately as their
Community Action Agencies
are weakened or close.”
Community
Action agencies coordinate
and deliver multiple
federal, state and local
programs designed to build
communities and increase
families’ abilities to
support themselves. Most are
reduced or frozen by the FY
2007 Bush Budget. Among the
Requests:
-
A freeze
in Head Start, the
largest CAA program,
means fewer pre-schoolers
served, even as the
number of children in
poverty continues to
climb. Of the 19,000
children that are
anticipated to go
unserved under a freeze
in Head Start funding,
6,300 would have been
served by CAAs.
-
A cut of
32% in Weatherization
Assistance will leave
nearly 29,000 low-income
energy consumers whose
homes CAAs expected to
weatherize in 2007
literally out in the
cold. CAAs deliver most
of the Department of
Energy Weatherization
Assistance Program
investments to
low-income homes.
Participants have saved
an average of $450 this
winter.
-
A freeze
or reduction in the FY
2007 LIHEAP program
means CAAs will again
exhaust the LIHEAP funds
no later than February
2007, as is the case at
present, and most LIHEAP
recipients will again
use up all the fuel
their assistance
purchased within two
months.
Bradley said,
“The President is either
misinformed or indifferent
about the realities
struggling workers and
retirees are facing. He is
certainly ignoring the fact
that Community Action offers
these Americans a firm hand
up. The OMB claims our
results are “not
demonstrated”; however, the
nation’s governors, mayors,
and county commissioners
joined in vocal opposition
to the similar FY 2006
Request. Community Action
delivers for the low-income
communities it serves, and
is respected by the leaders
who are closest to America’s
neighborhoods and towns.”
Contact:
Marci Phillips (202)
842-2092; Email:
marciphillips@ncaf.org
If the
elimination of Community
Services Block Grant Funds
for the Federal budget is a
concern for you, or you know
that, if passed, vulnerable
populations in your city or
region will be effected,
contact your Congressman and
Senator. Let them know
this concerns you. You
can even pass this Web page
on to the (if you know their
email address)...pass
the Press Release on...
Appreciate the muse,
please pass it
on...
Comments,
good, bad or ugly?
send me a
note...
|
