The President's request for FY2012 includes changes in funding for Community Action which will reduce the community Services Block Grant (CSBG) by 50% and allow the remaining funding to move to other Communities or Organizations.

It was merely days later that the house of Representatives adopted a Continuing Resolution which proposed to cut CSBG funding 44% in the middle of the current budget year. This would provide RECAP less then 15% of the annual budget to provide services for the remaining 7 months.

The actions of these two branches of the Federal Government begs the leadership of RECAP to analyze the effects of such cuts on services to residents and investments in future economic opportunities for all. The likely consequences are as follows:

- Eliminate or downsize the Nutrition Assistance Program which provides food for 116 households per month and gave more than 500 Thanksgiving baskets to families in 2009 and again in 2010. Of the 1392 customers, 445 were first time recipients.

- Downsize housing placement services for about two dozen returning war veterans.

- Eliminate the Volunteer Intern Program which assisted 76 of 125 customers with limited or no work experience with developing skills set for today's market place. The ten entrepreneurs needing help with developing a business plan will need to look outside the community.

- Eliminate the advocacy Services that assisted 355 households receive health insurance.

- Eliminate evening hours which will limits the access to the working poor.

- Elimatation of the birth certificate translation Spanish/English for more than 200 households in need.

- Downsize services for 1,058 households needing guidence and assistance with Unemployment benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability (SSD).

The elimination or reduction in services can result in more than 5 employees losing employment.

RECAP has always relied upon the CSBG Funds to develop new programs that meet the needs of Orange County as the needs emerge or change. Historically, CSBG funds were employed to establish the Middletown Community Health Center, Inc. more than 30 years ago. At the time the region was severely medically underserved and CSBG funds were directed to this most urgent need at the time.

More than 20 years ago, the Emergency Hosuing Group, Inc. was in serious jeopardy of closing. Where did they turn at the time? To RECAP! CSBG funds were made available to assist with the strengthing of the infrastructure of the only Tier 1 Emergency Housing Shelter in Orange County.

In the past few years CSBG funds have been used to underwrite a portion of the cost for Grants Management. During this period Grants Management was able to secure funding from the Veterans Administration to establish a Community Residence for female War Veterans and their children returning to Orange County. This Grants Management team was also successful in partnering with another community Based organization to establish a NY State Funded Foreclosure Prevention Program. The team als plays a vital role in the Orange County Housing Development Company's acquisition, renovation, and resale of foreclosed residential properties.

It should also be noted that all Communtiy Action Agencies recieve CSBG Funds. The CSBG Funds enabled RECAP to serve more than 11,984 people in 6,177 households last year alone. There were more than 7,104 phone referrals made by RECAP to community partners. Itbecomes abundantly clear that the loss of CSBG funds will have a substntial impact on the quality and level of services that RECAP can continue to offer community.