Northern Virginia non-profits that serve the homeless, the mentally handicapped, and others among the most needy residents are lobbying elected officials to preserve what's left of their funding.
Without an influx of local funds, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute may have to cut up to 13 beds reserved for patients that regular hospitals cannot or will not accept, according to the Washington Post. In past years, state dollars have paid for the beds, but two years of low funding and shifts in caring for the mentally ill have left the center short.
Advocates for homeless services felt threatened this week when Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin released a list of potential budget cuts that includes hundreds of thousands of dollars for area non-profits. The list is the same one used during budget negotiations in 2010 and 2011. In those years, most of the cuts were not made. This year, they would be on the chopping block if the Board of Supervisors decides to lower the property tax rate, or if they decide to fund pay raises, for example.
Still, advocates are worried, especially as state and federal funds dwindle.
Chairs of area community service boards are meeting Friday to discuss the possible ramifications of cutting beds at the mental health institute. Directors of area non-profits are focusing their efforts on reaching out to the public, and pleading with officials to recognize that they've already lost staff and dollars as a result of the recession, at a time when need has exploded.
Between the end of federal stimulus funds and potential state and local cuts, "there's a massive storm that's going to be impacting non-profits," said Amanda Andere, executive director of Facets, serving low-income residents of Fairfax. Andere also serves on the executive committee of NonProfit NOVA, a coalition of area organizations.
"The people we serve are the first affected by a recession, and the last to come out of it," she said.
