At 10 am, the DC Council will begin a special legislative session to vote on next year’s budget.
Last night, DC Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray released his changes to Mayor Fenty’s budget. The Council restored some funding, but missing from the list was money for some critical programs that help DC families struggling to stay afloat during these tough economic times. We hope the Chairman and council members reconsider before they vote. These programs include:
Rapid Housing: $1.1 million cut, eliminating the program
This program keeps kids with their parents when the risk of homelessness threatens to force children into the foster care system. It also supports children aging out of foster care who have nowhere to go. Every dollar invested in it saves four dollars in foster care costs that year. Eliminating this program, which helps 150 families per year, will push children into the foster care system.
Grandparent Caregiver: $2 million cut
This program keeps children out of foster care by giving grandparents financial support to take care of grandchildren. This $2 million cut means 250 grandparents will lose assistance. Also, assistance to grandparents could be cut as much as $380 per month. More children will be forced to enter the foster care system.
Emergency Rental Assistance: $1.3 million cut
This program helps low-income families stay in their homes and out of shelters by providing one-time assistance to pay overdue rent or a security deposit or first month’s rent.. The $1.3 million cut will put another 650 families at risk of homelessness.
Interim Disability Assistance: $6 million cut
IDA provides temporary cash assistance to poor adults with disabilities while they wait for months or even years for their application for federal Supplemental Security Income to be processed. For most recipients it is the only source of financial support they receive besides food stamps during that time. The Council has restored only $1 million to the IDA program, leaving a $6 million cut. Every $1 million restored would provide benefits for 300 low-income adults with disabilities.
Homeless Services: $4 million cut
Family homelessness increased 37 percent in two years. Last winter, 200 families were crammed into space suitable for only 135. This month, the Department of Human Services has turned away homeless families with children who have absolutely no other place to go. Yet the budget for homeless services was cut $4 million in 2010 and kept at that level for 2011.
Local Rent Supplement Program: $1 million cut
This program provides housing vouchers for very low income families. Many families that benefit from this program were homeless prior to participating in it. $2 million was cut from LSRP last year. The Council has restored $1 million. Restoring the remaining $1 million would help 75 families get safe and affordable housing.
