Federal budget decision finally brings jobs back to OLHSA

Almost two months after the president signed the FY 2011 budget into law, the office of Management and Budget released the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding. OLHSA, A Community Action Agency, is reinstating eight positions from a total of 19 laid-off employees, effective immediately. The recalled positions focus on client service delivery in OLHSA's Pontiac, Ferndale and Howell service centers. Proposed budget reductions in many of the programs for FY 2012, beginning October 1, 2011, caused OLHSA to be very conservative in calling back employees. "We had to make some tough decisions back in March and we're glad to be able to reverse some of those decisions with the release of funding. Our actions now are cautious because they need to be with looming cuts on the horizon. We do appreciate very much the advocacy shown by our supporters. Their calls and letters to Congress made a drastic difference in the cuts we actually faced against those originally proposed. We'll need the help of our supporters again as we face new budget challenges with the FY 2012," said Ronald B. Borngesser, OLHSA CEO. For the 1,100 Community Action Agencies across the country, including OLHSA, it all starts with CSBG. It is the funding that launched community action in 1964, and it's what continues to lay the financial foundation for community action every year. This year, the CSBG funding reduction was not as severe as originally proposed, however the funding reduction half way through the fiscal year doubled the severity of the effect and was unprecedented. Looking ahead, the House of Representatives FY 2012 budget proposal calls for $6.2 trillion in cuts over the next ten fiscal years. Additionally, President Obama's FY 2012 budget proposal calls for a 50 percent cut in the CSBG. Members in the House of Representatives have stated an intention to block the raising of the debt limit unless further discretionary cuts are achieved, with a goal to achieve them by August 2, 2011. OLHSA is led by a Board that represents every sector of its community, from leaders of the lower-income areas where the CAA works to elected officials, faith communities and many private sector partners. Their goal is to find better ways to make our citizens more economically secure and build a more prosperous future for us all. The people, activities and investments CSBG supports let them carry out that mission. Published: Wed, Jun 22, 2011