News Releases

LSA Tells Senate Now is Not the Time to Dismantle the Social Service Infrastructure

January 21, 2009 (Baltimore, MD) - “This is simply the wrong time to be dismantling human service capacity in this country,” Jill Schumann told a Senate briefing on January 15. The briefing was organized by Catholic Charities USA

“But … we believe that this is the right time to ignite the spark of change across the country. In the midst of the current challenges lies remarkable opportunity to move toward a society that is more generous, more just, and more inclusive …,” Schumann added.

In her comments Schumann cited the increasing need for services, decreasing government reimbursements for services and shrinking availability of credit and funds from individual donors and foundations.

She also noted the many “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects that could help spur the economy. These are “Short term investments that produce employment and long term public benefit,” Schumann said.

For instance, Schumann said, “For $360,000, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry in Cleveland Ohio can mount Community Care Teams that would create jobs for 100 formerly incarcerated people, prevent recidivism for 175 people, help to keep 1,000 people safe in low income housing and assure that 250 seniors are able to stay in their homes.”

As part of the Economic Recovery Package, Lutheran Services in America asked the Senate to include:

• Temporary assistance to the states to protect health care in the form of an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). An additional $100 million over two years is needed to protect Medicaid.
• Full funding of $2.8 billion for the Social Services Block Grant is crucial to meet the increasing demand for a variety of health and human service needs on the local level, from child protective services and domestic violence to nutrition assistance for seniors.
• $45 billion to create affordable rental housing, both through the purchase and rehabilitation of vacant homes as well as construction of new affordable rental homes.
• A $24 billion increase over two years in the food stamp program, which is now called SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• An additional $100 million in funding to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Match Grant program to help more than 40,000 refugees find jobs and self-sufficiency.
• Short-term investments to enable nonprofit organizations to restructure their services, embark on new collaborative initiatives, and expand effective programs to meet increased needs.

LSA is an alliance of national Lutheran church denominations and their health and human service providers. LSA member organizations deliver more than $10 billion in services to more than six million people every year – that translates to one in 50 people in the United States. LSA members provide services in all 50 states and the Caribbean. The network of close to 300 organizations serves the elderly, children and families, people with mental and physical disabilities, refugees, victims of natural disasters and others in need. Through these efforts LSA is on the front lines of building self-sufficiency and creating hope in millions of lives.

###