The Urban League of Greater Dallas will serve fewer clients under the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) due to a $500,000 cut in the budget for 2013 and 2014.
“This massive cut in next year’s budget will result in reductions in staff as well as limiting supportive services to clients,” said Dr. Beverly Mitchell-Brooks, President and CEO. “This means we will serve several thousand fewer people through next year.”
This is just one set back the League is facing. The shutdown in the government has also caused the League’s reimbursement to be delayed which affects all agency programs and services which now comes on top of the sequester effect. “This comes at a time when we are trying to maintain core services and build for the future with the Industry Training Center,” said Dr. Mitchell-Brook
Additionally, the League’s ability to provide continuous free services will be impacted, particularly rent, mortgage and utility assistance, employment services and the amount of financial support will be reduced.
Traditionally, the agency’s CSBG program has provided assistance to clients who receive other support. But, with the deep cuts proposed to the SNAP (Food Stamps) and Head Start Programs, people at or below 125% of the poverty guidelines are left with severely limited options in order to maintain a stable home environment. This safety net, that the nearly 450,000 Dallas residents who are poor depend on to help them maintain and retain basic living conditions, is greatly affected. “It is hard for citizens to choose between feeding their children or paying their rent because they have lost one of two of their minimum wage jobs,” said Dr. Mitchell-Brooks. “Most of the working poor must work two jobs in this current economy just to make ends meet.”
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