The federal government has slashed funds it gives to Glendale for social services and community projects by 35% compared to last year, a bigger hit than expected, officials said at a City Hall meeting Friday.
The Community Development Block Grants and other federal money have been cut year after year, but this is the worst yet for Glendale. In November, officials estimated they would see a reduction of just 10%.
“This is the most drastic cut,” said Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee member Gary Cornell.
Making matters worse, the number of applications, and the amounts requested, both have increased since last year, officials reported.
In November, Glendale expected to get about $5.5 million for community grants and housing. Instead, the city received $4.4 million. Last year, the city received about $6.3 million.
Of the $4.4 million, $290,000 is available for nonprofit and city-run public social services. However, about 20 nonprofits — from homeless groups to after-school programs — have asked for about $1 million, 70% more than what’s available. When the organizations applied, neither they, nor city officials, knew the cuts for the coming fiscal year would be so deep.
Last year, public social services received about $450,000, according to city records.
The rest of the $4.4 million is divvied up to pay for expenses such as city administration and capital improvement projects, which include code enforcement, artificial turf installment at Pacific Park, and improvements at Palmer Park.
“At the end of the day, the numbers are going to look ugly for everyone,” said Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan.
Door of Hope, a nonprofit that operates a transitional housing program for homeless women and children, has asked for about $70,000, but is unlikely to get that. Last year, it got about $19,000.
“The funding cuts put an added strain on our organization,” said Carrian Myers, assistant program director at Door of Hope, who once was a homeless program participant.
Club Jam, an after-school program, also expects to feel the strain. Last year, the group’s grant funding was reduced and Executive Director Gayaneh Davdodians had to cut staff. Now she works extra hours, filling her job and also that of a classroom teacher.
“It’s a little scary, most definitely,” Davdodians said of the looming cuts.
She asked for $50,000 for her program, which services about 50 students from kindergarten to sixth-grade. Last year, Club Jam received about $36,000.
In addition to the funding shortfalls, the way the committee makes funding recommendations — which ultimately are approved by the City Council — also changed. The city this year put its internal audit department in the loop to review the financial documents of applicants. The audits include breakdowns of debt, spending and level of dependence on city grants.
The city adopted its new nonprofit vetting process after New Horizons Family Center, which had received $300,000 in city grants, shut down in 2010 amid concerns it mishandled federal grants. The organization filed for bankruptcy late last year.
The Community Development Block Grants and other federal money have been cut year after year, but this is the worst yet for Glendale. In November, officials estimated they would see a reduction of just 10%.
“This is the most drastic cut,” said Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee member Gary Cornell.
Making matters worse, the number of applications, and the amounts requested, both have increased since last year, officials reported.
In November, Glendale expected to get about $5.5 million for community grants and housing. Instead, the city received $4.4 million. Last year, the city received about $6.3 million.
Of the $4.4 million, $290,000 is available for nonprofit and city-run public social services. However, about 20 nonprofits — from homeless groups to after-school programs — have asked for about $1 million, 70% more than what’s available. When the organizations applied, neither they, nor city officials, knew the cuts for the coming fiscal year would be so deep.
Last year, public social services received about $450,000, according to city records.
The rest of the $4.4 million is divvied up to pay for expenses such as city administration and capital improvement projects, which include code enforcement, artificial turf installment at Pacific Park, and improvements at Palmer Park.
“At the end of the day, the numbers are going to look ugly for everyone,” said Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan.
Door of Hope, a nonprofit that operates a transitional housing program for homeless women and children, has asked for about $70,000, but is unlikely to get that. Last year, it got about $19,000.
“The funding cuts put an added strain on our organization,” said Carrian Myers, assistant program director at Door of Hope, who once was a homeless program participant.
Club Jam, an after-school program, also expects to feel the strain. Last year, the group’s grant funding was reduced and Executive Director Gayaneh Davdodians had to cut staff. Now she works extra hours, filling her job and also that of a classroom teacher.
“It’s a little scary, most definitely,” Davdodians said of the looming cuts.
She asked for $50,000 for her program, which services about 50 students from kindergarten to sixth-grade. Last year, Club Jam received about $36,000.
In addition to the funding shortfalls, the way the committee makes funding recommendations — which ultimately are approved by the City Council — also changed. The city this year put its internal audit department in the loop to review the financial documents of applicants. The audits include breakdowns of debt, spending and level of dependence on city grants.
The city adopted its new nonprofit vetting process after New Horizons Family Center, which had received $300,000 in city grants, shut down in 2010 amid concerns it mishandled federal grants. The organization filed for bankruptcy late last year.
