Nonprofits Plea for More State Budget Money

Although the state Senate returned some cuts to Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget, nonprofit organizations beseeched one Pennsylvania lawmaker Thursday to consider further additions.

Rep. Pam DeLissio (D-194) held a budget hearing at West Laurel Hill Conservatory Thursday, allowing citizens a voice in the budget process. The state House returns to session June 4, and the budget is atop the agenda.

"The people who are living the day-to-day of these budgets need to have their voices heard... This information is invaluable for me to take back to Harrisburg," DeLissio said.

The public hearing was open to anyone, and many nonprofits who rely on state funding took the opportunity to demonstrate the heartache Pennsylvanians will feel if their programs lose money.

Organizations within DeLissio's district—like and in Roxborough, and Judith Creed Homes for Adult Independence in Bala Cynwyd—testified, but so did regional and statewide groups.

A common thread among those testifying was the real threat for them to cut back services to residents.

Northern Home, for example, works a lot with the School District of Philadelphia, but also provides housing for young mothers. CEO Tracy Lavallias said that program is in jeopardy.

"If groups like Northern Home go away, the problems won't go away," he said, adding the state would still incur the cost—but maybe in welfare, jailing or other avenues.

Stacy Jarett Levitan has a 44-year-old brother with Down syndrome. He is one of the many adults with special needs that her nonprofit provides housing. Judith Creed is bracing for a 10 percent cut, which would further strain their waiting list of 15,441 people.

"The governor's budget does nothing to help these 15,441 people—many of whom could become homeless without our services," she said.

On Thursday, Maryann Haytmanek traveled from Bethlehem to address DeLissio. She is a project director with New Choices, a group that focuses on adult learning—often at community colleges—geared toward middle-aged women entering the work force. These are often widowers, single parents, or homemakers forced to get jobs. She represents the group at a national level, but also works at Northampton Community College. 

"These people we serve are able to get jobs they wouldn't be able to get on their own. They often become better role models for their children... and are less likely to get dead-end jobs," she said.

Like many of the other nonprofits, Intercommunity Action has other avenues of funding. But that only goes so far. Kathy Manderino, who DeLissio preceded in Harrisburg, now is a senior vice president at Interact. She said seniors at the group's  recently raised $10,000 for the senior center.

"Our seniors were shocked when they found out the state's lottery money couldn't be used on them... They raised $10,000 but it costs $100,000 to run that building, and not one penny comes from the state's lottery fund," she said.

Interact provides services to several fields, including: behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and aging—so many avenues are in jeopardy with the current budget.

DeLissio will take the information and work with the General Assembly in crafting a final budget. She said more needs to be done to protect these forgotten members of society.

"These cuts really rise to the level of abuse to the harm they create," DeLissio said.