Save Our Services
September 27, 2010
During the country's difficult and prolonged economic downturn, it is important to gather reliable data and information. The National Governors Association has termed the period from mid-2007 through 2017 as the "lost decade." It is during this "lost decade" that states will be forced to contract services and supports and terminate or renegotiate contracts with many of their service providers. This can be a very frustrating time for those who provide services for the people who need them most. Often these people have already experienced difficulties even before the downturn, and now there are many new faces joining the crowd.
At the same time, in the face of a growing need for services, traditional sources of revenue are drying up. To further exacerbate this situation, there are many more enrollees in mandatory state programs such as Medicaid, and states have had to shift scarce funds away from discretionary programs in order to meet the growing need.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report shows the unprecedented anticipated growth in Medicaid enrollees for this year. 
This factor, together with the lower-than-anticipated amount of Federal Medical Assistance Plan (FMAP) funds (the federal government’s share of Medicaid) have caused many states to go back to the drawing board to rework their budgets.
This is an important time to focus on helping those receiving services from Volunteers of America weather the storm. Regardless of how they came to Volunteers of America, we must continue to be there for them. To do this, everyone must help by letting state governors, Congress and the Obama administration know that cutting vital community safety net programs is not how to get out of this economic downturn. Investing in our communities and strengthening human services — housing, job training, senior services, childcare, homeless shelters and other programs — is what’s needed.
Please let our elected officials know that we need human services by visiting http://voa.org/advocate.
