AGENDA #5a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Human Services Advisory Board
SUBJECT: 2001-2002 Funding Recommendation for Human Service Agencies
DATE: April 9, 2001
The purpose for this memorandum is to present a recommendation for total funding for human services for fiscal year 2001-2002.
Each year the Human Services Advisory Board presents a recommendation for funding human services to the Town Council as part of the budget process. This year the Human Services Advisory Board received 34 requests from local nonprofit human service agencies, totaling $318,710. The Board received applications from more agencies this year and the total funds requested increased by $56,000. In addition to reviewing the written applications the Board holds hearings for the agencies to present their proposals. The Board has scheduled six weeks of hearings this spring and will present specific agency allocation recommendations to the Town Council in June.
In the Needs Report presented in January to the Town Council, the Human Services Advisory Board again this year identified as priorities parent and family support, substance abuse treatment, and services for youth and senior citizens. The Board also emphasized issues of support services to people moving from welfare to work, the increase in our Latino population, community mental health treatment services and the rising costs of housing and child care.
Due to a difficult budget year in 2000-2001, the human service allocations were held at the same level as 1999-2000: $178,200. The Board recognizes that economic slowdowns and the status of the State budget make funding decisions difficult. These same economic conditions, however, also burden nonprofit human service agencies and the clients they serve. As such, the Board recommends that the Town Council increase funding this year by 10%, bringing the total allocation to $196,000.
The Human Services Advisory Board appreciates the Town support for human service agencies that serve Chapel Hill residents.