Advocates See “Catastrophe for At-Risk Families” in Albany County as New York Proposes to Slash Funding for Legal Assistance to Prevent Homelessness
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Jordan Carleo-Evangelist
Source: “When Cuts Hit Home,” Albany Times Union (NY)
Date: March 7, 2010
The Albany Times Union reports: “. . . [S]tate funding cuts threaten to slash Albany County's homelessness prevention funding . . . Housing advocates warn the cuts not only will cause a surge in the already rising number of people forced from their homes amid the nation's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, but will also cost taxpayers more in the end. ‘It's a catastrophe for at-risk families,’ said Ira Mandelker, executive director of the Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, or HATAS, on Central Avenue, one of four groups that contract with the county to spend the roughly $439,000 in state and federal money that Albany County receives. Those most affected by the cuts, he said, will not necessarily be the chronic homeless population most often envisioned by the public but working individuals and families whose finances have been devastated by illness, a loss of work hours or a layoff. . . . Gov. David Paterson's proposed 2010-11 budget would eliminate the $5 million federal component entirely and cut the state's share by a little over $1 million -- a combined 69 percent reduction. HATAS, United Tenants [of Albany], the Legal Aid Society and the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless use the money to lend legal assistance and advocacy to people facing eviction, mediate disputes with landlords and pay for case management and follow-up to ensure the clients can stay in their homes. Leveraged with other money that's used to make payments directly to landlords, United Tenants helped prevent 288 evictions last year, said Executive Director Maria Markovics.”