Lowering your utility bills through energy efficient weatherization services. Not necessary.

  Health, financial and educational literacy services. Not important.

  Emergency assistance for working families struggling with tight budgets. Not anymore.

  Family-focused quality early childhood education opportunities. Not helpful.

  That is, apparently the feeling in Washington, D.C.

  The planned elimination of core community services as outlined in the President’s proposed budget would have devastating consequences for the those most vulnerable in the community.

  Gateway Community Action Partnership, like other CAP agencies nationwide, would be impacted in ways unimaginable prior to the budget’s introduction last week. The agency serves more than 50,000 unduplicated clients annually through programs tied the mission of “providing services that improve the quality of life and promote self-sufficiency.”

  The proposed budget would eliminate Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding which provides core funding and enables Gateway to deliver essential services like literacy and social services.

  The budget would also eliminate funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) which would put individuals and families in unhealthy living conditions with costly, inefficient energy systems.

Both programs have had broad bipartisan support through the years and a solid record of successful outcomes.

  “When you eliminate core programs that are at the heart of making a positive difference in people’s lives, you are striking a blow to the core and to the heart of our hard-working individuals and families who are only asking for a hand up, not a hand out,” Albert B. Kelly, CCAP, Gateway president and CEO said.

  "Despite everything President Trump has promised, this is a radical right, Washington insider's budget that does not reflect priorities that make America stronger. President Trump's budget is tone deaf to small town mayors, the people who elected him, and every community across the US, Chief Executive Officer of the National Community Action Foundation, the organization charged with advocating for local Community Action Agencies in Washington, David Bradley said.

  “Cutting CSBG, flexible local dollars that create opportunity for over 15 million people in every community in America, a program with bipartisan support in Congress, one that has already shifted power from the feds to local communities, harms America.

  “How does making hundreds of thousands of seniors, disabled people and disadvantaged families choose between heating and eating by striking LIHEAP make America strong again? How does calling for the elimination of America's most successful energy conservation program, WAP, make America first?

  “Make no mistake about it, this budget does not put America first, it puts Americans last," Bradley added.

  The budget outline calls for significant cuts to several agencies and programs across the federal government. Unfortunately, the budget calls for $1.7 billion in cuts at the Department of Energy (DOE), eliminating funding for WAP.  It also calls for $15.1 billion in funding reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), eliminating funding for CSBG. The HHS cuts also zero out the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

  “Gateway has been a source of hope to many and a resource to the entire community for 30 years,” Kelly said. “We have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and in making that positive change, have helped build or maintain the fabric of our entire community. These cuts will have a devastating effect on our ability to make that positive difference.”

  Echoing Kelly’s concern, Community Action Partnership CEO Denise Harlow said,
"The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is vital to the nation's network of 1,000+ local Community Action Agencies (CAAs). Local CAAs serve more than 99 percent of America's counties, providing services and other supports to struggling families, and working to revitalize communities. CAAs are locally-based organizations that each respond to their community's unique set of needs. Last year, Community Action Agencies leveraged an addition $7.70 for each $1.00 of CSBG, including $2.34 in private resources to touch the lives of more than 15.6 million individuals in 6.6 million families. This impact is felt in communities across America, from the most rural community to suburban neighborhoods to urban centers. As the Promise of Community Action states, 'we care about the entire community.'"

  "Cuts to Weatherization and LiHEAP will increase the energy burden on families, forcing many senior citizens and people with disabilities to make difficult choices between basic needs,” Harlow added. “The Community Services Block Grant and the local agencies it funds are an investment in our nation's families and future. The proposed cuts would leave local communities across the country unprepared to assist families. We believe that Congress understands the needs of families in their local communities and appreciates the important role Community Action Agencies play at the local level." 

  It should be noted that the President's budget proposal is just the first step in a lengthy and elaborate budget process. The budget is a non-binding "blueprint" in which the Administration sets out its funding priorities, while Congress ultimately makes all of the final funding decisions in annual appropriations bills. Congress has no obligation to follow the President's budget and very rarely do presidents receive their desired funding cuts or increases.

 While this budget proposal is incredibly disappointing, it is in no way a final picture of funding for CAP programs. Both WAP and CSBG have strong, bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Bradley and other national CAP officials noted that this is just the beginning of a long road ahead protecting our programs.