Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required.
Title
Supporting federal funding of Community Action Agency programs.
Body
WHEREAS, Community Action Coalition for South Central WI, Inc. (CAC) was established in January 1966 as a Community Action Agency (CAA) under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964; and
WHEREAS, CAC serves as one of 16 CAAs in Wisconsin and serves as the focal point where providers of services and recipients of the service meet as equals to develop programs to help local low-income residents move toward greater self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, CAC creates economic opportunities for low-income people by:
· Involving low-income people in identifying and developing solutions to local poverty problems;
· Building skills through employment training, financial education and other programs;
· Supporting families at risk of homelessness so they can retain stable housing;
· Supporting families who have become homeless with case management and housing assistance programs;
· Supporting development and leadership opportunities for low-income people through pantry and community garden programs;
· Strengthening families and providing free clothing to them throughout the year, helping to stretch limited resources even further;
· Providing resources and opportunities for other organizations serving low-income people in Dane County be serving as a lead agency for several shared funding streams including federal homelessness prevention and emergency food programs, and spearheading partnerships such as the Dane County Food Pantry Network; and
· Researching and developing effective solutions to community needs; and
WHEREAS, CAAs, the Wisconsin Tribes and other limited purpose agencies serving people affected by poverty receive federal Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds to provide direct services to low-income individuals and families and those funds are critical to the continued success of CAAs and the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin has submitted its 2010 Community Services Block Grant plan, and the plan provides that:
· 90% of CSBG funds will be passed through to the state's 16 CAAs with additional allocations for the tribes and affiliated limited purpose agencies, Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) and for the State's administration of the block grant;
· Flexibility at the local level to address poverty needs; and
· Each CAA Board of Directors be governed by its own tripartite board of directors consisting of a minimum of one-third representatives of the poor in the geographic area served, one-third elected public officials or their designees from that area and one-third representatives representing public and private institutions that serve the CAAs' communities; and
WHEREAS, President Obama's budget calls for reducing funding for the CSBG by 50%, and members of Congress might consider the same or deeper cuts; and
WHEREAS, CAC utilizes its annual CSBG funding of $835,008 to leverage over $4 million in additional dollars to help low-income residents of Dane County; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council believes the services and programs provided by CAC are important to the city of Madison, and the loss of any significant level of CSBG funding would be a detriment for the families and communities in Madison and Dane County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison Common Council hereby supports retaining federal funding for the Community Services Block Grant at current levels to promote economic stability for people in need for our common good.