Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) have long faced threats during Republican administrations, making President Barack Obama’s decision to target them for cuts in his State of the Union address particularly jarring for Chelsea residents and organizations. The announcement reverberated throughout the city, especially among nonprofits such as CAPIC that depend substantially on CSBG funding to operate vital initiatives including fuel assistance, job training, Head Start programming and other critical services for elderly residents and low-income families.
CAPIC Executive Director Bob Repucci expressed his dismay at the proposal. “I must tell you I’m shocked,” said Repucci. “He (Obama) has certainly been aware of these programs and understands the important role we (CAPIC) play in helping low-income families. Knowing he understands this is really a shock.” Repucci went on to characterize the magnitude of the reductions as excessive. “It is such a devastating decrease,” said Repucci. “We all bear the responsibility to make sacrifices and contribution and if a decrease is needed we would look at the numbers and make the necessary adjustments but at a 50 percent reduction would really mean a drastic change the programming we do in Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere.”
According to Repucci, CAPIC intends to mount a vigorous campaign against the proposed reductions. The organization currently relies on CSBG funding as its primary source of support across all programming. Some observers believe the administration is attempting to appease Republicans who now control the House and have criticized its spending policies. Currently, CAPIC’s Chelsea office is serving thousands of low-income families during the harsh winter months through its Fuel Assistance program, delivering Head Start and child care to hundreds of children and their families, and launching recruitment efforts for its work education program targeting both youth and adults.
U.S. Senator John Kerry characterized CAPIC’s work as essential to local Massachusetts efforts supporting struggling families, children and seniors. “I’m ready to make tough budget choices and real cuts, but I don’t think community action programs are the place to slash just as we’re pulling the country out of the economic ditch,” said Kerry. “I’m ready to make tough budget choices and real cuts, but I don’t think community action programs are the place to slash just as we’re pulling the country out of the economic ditch,” said Kerry. U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano, Kerry’s House colleague, acknowledged the need to address the nation’s deficit but cautioned against doing so on the backs of vulnerable populations. “These proposed cuts are just too steep and will result in significant funding challenges for organizations like CAPIC that help families who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Capuano.