Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) decries a reported Trump administration budget proposal that would eliminate funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSGB), Head Start and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) — three programs that are critical to low-income communities, children, and families across Massachusetts — and the nation.
“It would be unconscionable to defund CSGB, Head Start and LIHEAP and does not eliminate the incredible need for these programs — it just leaves millions of families with nowhere to turn,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. Noting that all three of these programs have historically been bi-partisan, and that Congress has to develop and pass its own budget after the President’s budget is officially released, Scott-Chandler said, “Community Action Agencies across the country are the trusted places that help keep families safe and partner with them to improve their futures. We have to act now to ensure that these life-sustaining services continue.”
Impact:
Community Action Agencies assist and uplift millions of Americans. Through CSBG funding, Community Action Agencies (CAA), like ABCD, are able to reduce poverty, revitalize communities, and help families become self-sufficient in every community in the country. These organizations reach more than 9 million people each year through programs like Head Start, LIHEAP, and others that meet local needs for jobs, youth development, asset-building, food, housing assistance, and more. CSBG is the only federal program with the explicit and overarching goal of reducing poverty at the local level, regardless of its cause.
Head Start works. Of the 11,000 plus children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Massachusetts, ABCD enrolls more than 2,000 of those children. Every dollar invested in Head Start returns $7–$10 in long-term benefits through better education, health, and employment outcomes.
LIHEAP keeps folks healthy and safe. Through the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP), known as HEAP in the Commonwealth, ABCD serves close to 20,000 of the 150,000 Massachusetts residents who receive fuel assistance each year.
Scott-Chandler added, “Community Action Agencies have long-standing relationships and deep roots in the community. How will families go to work and school without quality early education and childcare? How will our neighbors who are disabled, senior citizens, or those struggling to make ends meet heat their homes in the frigid winter season? These programs keep families out of crisis and provide pathways out of poverty.”
Call to Action:
ABCD asks for help to ensure that this nation’s investment in children and families is not lost with the elimination of CSGB, Head Start and LIHEAP. Allies can:
- Use the following to contact government officials to express support:
National Head Start Association Advocacy Action Center, which includes a letter to President Trump
National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition
ABCD encourages people to modify the template to reflect any personal insights they feel comfortable sharing.
- Learn more about CSBG and its impact at the National Community Action Foundation website.
- Share information near and far about the positive impact of Community Action and its programs like Head Start, and LIHEAP via email and social media.
- Encourage anyone you know who has benefited from these programs or ABCD to share their stories with ABCD by emailing info@bostonabcd.org.
Eradicating Poverty
The CSGB, first enacted in 1981, was created out of the original war on poverty to serve as the vehicle to continue the support of the nationwide network of Community Action Agencies like ABCD through block grants to states that are passed through to local organizations.
Notable community action leaders include the legendary former ABCD President/CEO Robert M. Coard who led ABCD for 41 years, former U.S. Ambassador to France R. Sargent Shriver and President Lyndon B. Johnson who declared war on poverty during his 1964 State of the Union Address and laid the groundwork for community action when he signed the Economic Opportunity Act into law that same year.
An Investment in America’s future
ABCD Head Start and Children’s Services early childhood development program currently enrolls approximately 2,000 low-income children from birth to five-years-old and their families in 24 centers within every neighborhood of Boston, as well as Malden, Medford, and Everett. Early Head Start at 12 sites supports infants, toddlers and pregnant mothers. Nationally, Head Start serves more than 750,000 poor children and families, providing comprehensive education, health, dental, nutrition and social services for children from birth to age five along with intensive parent engagement.
Since 1965, Head Start has served more than 33 million children and their families providing pathways to success in school and life. Yesterday’s Head Start children are today’s lawyers, teachers, doctors, business executives and elected officials including President of the Ford Foundation Darren Walker, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Former United States Secretary of Human Services Sylvia Matthews Burrell, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes one of Head Start’s founders, psychologist Edward Ziglar, and former professional basketball player, now television sports analyst, entrepreneur and philanthropist Shaquille O’Neal.
Health and Safety
LIHEAP matters because a warm home is a necessity. For over 43 years, LIHEAP has consistently saved lives by meeting critical health and safety needs for fuel assistance and working heating systems in Massachusetts and across the nation. According to WalletHub Massachusetts is one of the top 10 states with the highest energy burdens in the nation. Without HEAP, many families may be making the choice between putting food on the table and keeping the house warm.
A letter to Washington from a Massachusetts delegation led by Senator Markey cites the impact of LIHEAP:
Massachusetts has received more than 181,000 requests for heating assistance so far this fiscal year, with more than 110,000 households already served through March 31. First-time applicants have also surged: more than 27,000 Massachusetts households applied for LIHEAP for the first time this fiscal year, 8 percent more than last year at this point. More than 58 percent of households served so far include at least one elderly member, more than 33 percent include individuals with disabilities, more than 6,500 include a veteran or active-duty military member, and more than 11,500 include young children under age five.
April 30 is the last day to apply for HEAP. ABCD encourages residents in Greater Boston and the Mystic Valley to review the HEAP eligibility guidelines even if they don’t consider themselves low or moderate income and apply where applicable. For the current season, as much as $1,500 can be provided in fuel assistance for eligible households. More information is available at bostonabcd.org/heat.