President’s Budget Shreds Hope for Low-Income Americans

[dajoki]

President’s Budget Shreds Hope for Low-Income Americans
February 13, 2012 07:06 PM Eastern Time
http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20120213006673/en/Low-income/poverty/employment

WASHINGTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--President Obama’s proposed cut, of nearly 50 percent, to the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) would be a devastating blow to more than 1,000 community action agencies (CAAs) that help low-income Americans find employment, housing, education and emergency services. With America’s poverty rate at 15.1 percent, its highest level since 1993, these cuts threaten the economic security of families living in or near poverty and the rebuilding of America’s middle class. “Cutting Community Service Blog Grant funding in half will shred vital State and local programs and services for the most vulnerable Americans at a time when they are needed more than ever”.

“Cutting Community Service Blog Grant funding in half will shred vital State and local programs and services for the most vulnerable Americans at a time when they are needed more than ever,” said Steve Payne, President of the National Association for State Community Service Programs Board of Directors and Director of the Department of Commerce, Community Services and Housing Division in Washington state. “We urge Congress to reinstate level funding of $677 million and preserve this essential block grant for the more than 20 million low-income Americans served by CSBG last year.”

CSBG has measurable results that reduce or eliminate poverty by helping individuals find job training, obtain employment and remove employment barriers, such as safe and reliable housing and transportation. During the last fiscal year, the CSBG network effectively allowed 5.6 million low-income participants to acquire a job or reduce barriers to employment; assisted 3.2 million low-income vulnerable individuals to maintain an independent living situation; and 3.9 million people participated in child and family development programs, among other accomplishments.

“During an era when Americans are struggling with high unemployment, underemployment, and financial burdens lingering from a deep recession, we’re appalled to see this attack on vulnerable Americans looking to contribute to the economic health of the country. In order for people to move out of poverty and into the ranks of the middle class, we need to ensure that they have access to available jobs and livable wages, and not create further barriers to their economic security,” said Payne.

As part of its ongoing effort to ensure that CSBG funds are used efficiently and with the highest impact to participants, NASCSP released an accreditation proposal for improving performance measures and accountability of CSBG-funded agencies. The Obama administration’s proposed funding cuts will effectively make these recommendations moot by dismantling programs with proven results and direct impact to people most in need.

[madrchsod]

1. "it`alright, ma..(i`m only bleeding)"

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/its-alright-ma-im-only-bleeding

[Robb]

2. Where can I get a blog grant?

[dajoki]

3. Its a typo n/t

[ProSense]

4. Apparently

the President believes that not all the recipients serve in the best interest of low income Americans. Here is the case for the cuts:

CUTS: COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Department of Health and Human Services

Although it supports the important goals of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, the Administration proposes to reduce funding in order to meet fiscal targets as required by the Budget Control Act. In addition, the Administration proposes to establish a system of performance standards and competition for CSBG funds, which will promote innovation and target funds to the high-performing entities and areas of greatest need.

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Justification

CSBG provides grants to States, territories, and Indian Tribes for redistribution to pre-designated eligible entities – primarily Community Action Agencies (CAAs) – that provide services and activities to reduce poverty. Annual awards for CSBG funds are not open for competition, and many CAAs receiving funding have remained unchanged since 1964, regardless of their level of performance. The current CSBG program guarantees funding for these entities, unless a State takes formal action to revoke an entity's eligibility – a difficult and time-consuming process. States usually pursue termination only when there is a determination that the CAA is grossly financially negligent. A series of reports from the Government Accountability Office and the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services have documented failures in program oversight and accountability – with the likely result that even grossly negligent CAAs continue to receive funding.1 In addition, the current reporting systems are not robust enough for States or the Federal Government to determine what different CAAs are accomplishing as a result of receiving CSBG funds.

The Administration recognizes that many CAAs play an important role in the Nation's communities – providing much needed and adaptable anti-poverty programs to those in most need of assistance. In order to ensure that CSBG funding is used most effectively, the Administration proposes to establish standards that States will be required to use in assessing whether an eligible entity is meeting a high standard of service delivery. If an entity falls short of meeting the standards, States will be required to implement immediate open competition to serve the affected communities. In this system, States will be provided the flexibility to target funds to the areas of greatest need.

The Administration supports the important goals of the CSBG program, but proposes a reduction of $329 million in order to meet fiscal targets. Introducing a system of standards and requiring competition will make better use of limited taxpayer funds by promoting innovation and assuring low-income families and communities are receiving high-quality services. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress, the States, and other interested parties to further develop the core standards, and to further refine the reporting systems necessary to support implementation.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/ccs.pdf

Here's the relevant WH fact sheet:

Giving a Hand Up to Low-Income Families

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Fund the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness. The Budget continues to make progress toward the goals of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, which was released by the President in June 2010. The Budget includes over $2.2 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants, which will maintain existing units and expand prevention, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing. In addition, the Budget provides $75 million in HUD funds for new housing vouchers for homeless veterans who receive health care and other services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

<...>

Preserve Funding for HUD’s Largest Block Grants. The Budget provides $2.9 billion in flexible Community Development Block Grant funds, equal to 2012 enacted levels. Funding is distributed to 1,200 State and local governments to address infrastructure, affordable housing, and economic development needs in their communities. In addition, the Budget also provides $1 billion in HOME Investment Partnerships program. These funds are used to increase the supply of affordable housing for low-income families. Preserving these funding levels reflect the Administration’s commitment to State and local governments during challenging fiscal conditions.

Expand the Promise Neighborhoods Program to Prepare More Students for College. The Budget includes $100 million in dedicated support for Promise Neighborhoods, modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, which aims to improve college going rates by combining a rigorous K-12 education with a full network of supportive services in an entire neighborhood. This initiative would support comprehensive programs that address the needs of children and youth in a targeted area from before the time they are born to their attendance in college.

Revitalize Distressed Urban Neighborhoods. The Budget reflects an integrated and performance-driven approach to distressed urban neighborhoods, where the challenges tied to jobs, education, public safety, and other needs intersect and compound each other. The Budget provides $150 million for the Choice Neighborhoods initiative to continue transformative investments in high-poverty neighborhoods where distressed HUD-assisted public and privately owned housing is located, a $30 million increase from 2012 enacted level. The Budget will reach 4 to 6 neighborhoods with grants that primarily fund the preservation, rehabilitation and transformation of HUD-assisted public and privately-owned multifamily housing, and will also engage local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit developers in partnerships to improve surrounding communities. The Budget also maintains funding for the Department of Labor’s YouthBuild program, which helps low-income young people ages 16-24 finish high school and learn job skills by building affordable housing in their communities. In addition, the Budget includes $15 billion for Project Rebuild, which invests in proven strategies that leverage private capital and expertise to rehabilitate hundreds of thousands of properties in communities across the country.

- more -

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet/giving-a-hand-up-to-low-income-families

[gratuitous]

5. Gotta turn a profit, I guess

Yeah, funding programs to help ameliorate long-standing problems doesn't show immediate results. It can take years, even decades, to have an impact, and underfunded programs can be worse than no program at all. Try jumping the Grand Canyon in two leaps some time. Better to not make that first jump at all than try to figure out where you're going to land whilst hanging in mid-air.

But the bottom line becomes the bottom line: We fed hungry people last year, and people are hungry again this year! Clearly, the program doesn't work, so let's cut it in the name of some chimerical fiscal responsibility. And don't even think of touching subsidies to Big Oil or raising the tax rate on capital gains. Sorry, those of you left behind by the way things are, but that's just . . . uh, the way things are. Can't change it, you know. Can't even try.