To: Representative Gene DiGirolamo, Chair, House Human Services Committee
Restore Pennsylvania Human Services Budgets for FY'13
We strongly oppose budget cuts to Human Services and the establishment of the Development Block Grant Fund in the PA FY13 budget. We request that our legislators restore the budgets, delay the block grant decision, and use this time to explore and capitalize on new approaches to human services such as peer-based services, evidence based practices, and approaches that have proved successful and cost efficient in the human services arena.
Why is this important?
The PA “FY13 cuts to human services combined with the County Human Services Block grant threaten to cut the underpinnings of our human services safety net. Some services could receive cuts as high as a 40% to 50% because programs with mandates may preempt their funding. County Commissioners oppose the Block Grant because there is no time to respond to the changes, fair distribution of funds will be difficult and county versus State funding has not been addressed. The people who will suffer are the homeless, returning veterans, those who need addiction, mental health, disability, child welfare and medical services and more. Service providers will close and may never be replaced. It is highly possible the money saved will be usurped by increased prison and emergency medical costs.