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Proposed state budget cuts impact programs for the needy, the disabled and the abused Date published: 2/24/2010
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
The safety net keeping at-risk Virginians off the streets and out of institutions is likely to fray under proposed state budget cuts. Both the House and Senate money committees have suggested reductions to social services, Medicaid, child-abuse prevention programs and domestic-violence centers. Programs serving the poor, the disabled and the abused already face rising needs and shrinking donations. And as the state tries to close a $4 billion gap in revenue, these programs face significant additional cuts. SOCIAL SERVICES The waiting room of the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services is often filled these days. More people have lost their jobs and now rely on food stamps and welfare. Times are tough. And not just for the people filling out applications. The department's budget was cut for this fiscal year, and fewer social workers are available to meet the demand for services. The department and others around Virginia face deeper cuts: 5 percent in the House budget. The proposed Senate budget suggests a 5 percent cut to the Virginia Department of Social Services but does not mention the local agencies. Also, programs that help older Virginians with chores and companionship will be eliminated. "We fear we will receive additional adult protective services complaints," said Janine Sewell, director of the Fredericksburg Department of Social Services. More elderly Virginians could also end up in nursing homes, Sewell said, because families won't be able to take care of them without in-home support. HEALTHY FAMILIES A home-visiting program for struggling new parents faces at least $2 million in cuts in both the House and Senate budgets. Locally, that could mean that about 60 families would not receive services. Healthy Families helps first-time parents who lack family support or financial help. Staff members visit families and connect them to local resources. They also encourage and advise parents through the first five years of raising their children. "Some of these families came to us extremely vulnerable. Some were homeless. Some experienced abuse as children," said Michele Powell, director of Healthy Families Rappahannock Area. "To see them now being productive, tax-paying citizens, having jobs, owning homes, taking care of their families, is just amazing." Already this year, Powell has turned away about 25 interested families. But if the cuts go through, Powell worries she won't be able to serve any.
Date published: 2/24/2010
How about cutting all the salaries of senior elected state officials in half, close the governor?s mansion, no more hosting of state diners or out-of-town visitors on tax dollars, and if our leaders want to travel out of state it is done so out of their own pocket. Where are the cutbacks in these areas?
or irresponsible about Ms. Flowers-Umble's reporting. The proposed cuts to these services will hurt this community. Those are simply the facts. It is absolutely immoral to deal with this budget shortfall on the backs of the poor and the vulnerable. These cuts disproportionately punish those who need assistance the most. These are short-sighted solutions that will do more harm and cost Virginians more down the road. A common sense tax increase would share this burden more equally among all Virginians.
There isn't any easy choices to make and states like people, are just out of money. Tax increases aren't the answer since the population is already strapped tight. It isn't a democrat or republicna, black or white thing. this country has serious issues and it's time for people to be Americans first and forget the skin color and party stuff. Politicans as well as private citizens, need to do what is best for America
You have a twisted sense of reality. You need to take a class in sensitivity and government. The problem we have with our economy isn't the dollars we spend on the needy and schools and "in" country programs. It's the "out" of country give aways and MANY wars we are in and the way we give tax breaks to corporations. We allow Oil companies to run rough shod over us just like the insurance companies. We pay taxes and get nothing in return. You are just plain foolish in your rhetoric. Get an education.
Those idiots in Richmond are giving way to the gun lobby and soon everyone will be carrying guns and that means less people. Remember "guns kill people, people don't kill people". The more guns there are the less people there will be and less people will need help from our taxes. Who are these people that think "entitlement" means that someone is entitled to get help? I am an American and I am entitled to suffer and starve just like anyone else in America. I pay taxes don't I? What are they for? Churches?
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