The Impacts of Federal Funding

Given the strong partisan divide in our country, I’d rather not address national politics at all in this forum. It risks division, which I have no interest in doing. But, many have asked about potential changes to Beacon’s services should there be changes in federal policy and funding, and it seems important to address. At the moment and with the exception of a scary but ultimately brief federal freeze on grant reimbursements, Beacon’s services have not been impacted at all. That’s the good news. More good news – most of our food and shelter services are funded by local families, like you, who have generously supported Beacon’s work. That generous support creates some independence for us from the sways of political differences. But, there is some work that is very precious to us that could be under serious threat. As a solutions-driven nonprofit, Beacon has actively stood not just for a meal or a bed, but a home. Last year alone, Beacon housed or prevented homelessness for more than 683 children and adults, many of those struggling with disabilities and all with poverty. Unfortunately, most of this housing work is federally funded and at great risk. The current Presidential administration has taken a position opposed to Housing First, despite previous support under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Housing First began receiving federal support in 2004 under the Bush administration. Prior to Housing First’s widespread implementation, our nation’s homeless shelter system used for more than a century what I would describe as a shelter first approach to homelessness. Shelters were used to help people improve their conditions until they could resolve their homelessness themselves. While this worked for some people, it created an enormous underclass of people with severe disabilities who remained permanently homeless. Housing First was the first glimpse of hope for hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom had been previously condemned to the streets until their deaths. The current administration wants us to return to a shelter first approach, an approach that might appear to some as new, but which has been tested for far longer than Housing First approaches. Its weaknesses were the reason Housing First was implemented. Should we return to a shelter first approach, this could mean significant cuts to the housing work being done by Beacon and many other nonprofits across the country. Locally, hundreds of adults with disabilities and families with children would become homeless very quickly. Nationally, it would be hundreds of thousands. That would leave Beacon and our communities with a much greater burden to address with our shelter programs and would condemn many very vulnerable people to permanent homelessness. While I personally believe much is lacking in our current approach to homelessness, the biggest problem is that we don’t have enough of the housing and essential services that people so desperately need. Taking away very effective housing options will make the problem much worse. We, of course, very much hope it won’t come to this. In support of some of the current administration’s proposals, increased shelter and more medical, mental health, and recovery care are all excellent ideas that we heartily support. But all of that needs to be added to, not taken away from, what we already have. The last bit of good news – these may be uncertain times, but Beacon will survive and thrive with your help. We may lose some programs, but we will adapt to the changing circumstances and always, always do our best work for those struggling with poverty. Whatever happens, we will be here on your behalf to help lift up those in need. Whatever happens, through Beacon, you’ll always have a way to make change!