Excerpts from “Government Must Pay the Actual Cost of Services,” by Peter Goldberg, Pres. & CEO of Families International in Milwaukee, Wisc., The Non Profit Times, 12/1/09.

"The notion that government believes it can pay less and less each year than it costs human service organizations to provide a contracted service, and that these services will simply be subsidized and supplemented with private giving, is upside down, inside out, and insensitive to the virtues of private philanthropy.

There is an urgent need to address the capacities of nonprofit human service providers to continue making up for their shortchanging at the hand of government. Human service providers serve children and families. Their history and values compel them to serve – even when they are financially abused. But that doesn’t mean that it is right.

Can we count on the administration of President Barack Obama to lead us to the promised land of more sensitive contractual pricing and other reforms? I am not certain. Its initial approach to nonprofits seems to be more framed around “social innovation” and less on so-called legacy organizations whose incredible work sustains year in and year out despite enormous challenges.

I would remind our public sector leaders that innovation is not consigned only to new organizations. Many organizations have long histories, and they have not survived that long by turning their back to innovation. The reason they have withstood every challenge thrown their way is due to their innovation, adaptation, and resilience."

Labels: cost, Goldberg, human services

King County is considering eliminating ALL County general funds for human services in 2010 in order to balance the county budget.

WHAT WILL BE ELIMINATED?

County funding for domestic violence shelters; senior centers; adult day health; emergency food distribution; homeless shelters, including those for youth; services for victims of sexual assault; and programs for youth at risk, and MORE!

The King County Alliance for Human Services urges King County Council to maintain current funding for community health and human services for 2010 while we work together to find a long-term funding solution.

Urgently needed human services have already been cut by almost 50% in the past three years, during a time of dramatically increasing needs and severe economic distress. Our communities cannot sustain any further cuts without deep losses to the human services infrastructure. In addition to reducing human misery, maintaining the infrastructure is also more cost effective. It is much more expensive to rebuild this foundation than to maintain it, and will take years to bring back to current levels if it is dismantled.

Maintaining funding to community health and human services now will save King County money in the long run. Eliminating or reducing human services will drive up the costs of public health and public safety, increasing both human and financial costs to residents of King County.

Maintaining current funding for 2010 will not solve the problem of adequate, stable funding for urgently needed community health and human services in the long-term. Our elected leaders must continue working, unabated, to implement long-term solutions so that services are available when King County residents find themselves in need. And at least until those solutions are in place, this temporary set aside is a critical measure to ensure the strength of our communities.

You can help by contacting members of the King County Council and urge their support for continued funding of human services. You can also voice your concerns at upcoming public hearings on the County’s proposed budget:

October 7 - 7 pm - Bellevue City Chambers
October 13 - 7 pm - Regional Justice Center
October 22 - 7 pm - Redmond City Chambers
October 29 - 7 pm - King County Courthouse, Seattle

Click here to learn more about how you can help by visiting the website of The King County Alliance for Human Services.

Labels: eliminate funds, human services, urgent