Local social-service organizations seeking federal community development block grants through Provo City didn't come away with much this year.
Construction projects took priority over programs for teenage mothers, the handicapped and special arts education for at-risk children.A citizens committee and Ron Madsen, Provo Redevelopment Agency director, feared social programs might not be able to receive ongoing funding because of possible cuts in Department of Housing and Urban Development
See SOCIAL on B2
grants. HUD administers the community development block grant program. The City Council votes on which projects get money.
"Most social services are funded through the county or other state and federal agencies," Madsen wrote in a memo. "Because of the availability of other funding, the committee wanted to give a higher priority to bricks-and-mortar type projects."
That philosophy didn't sit well with Kathy Edwards, director of Recreation for All Handicapped. That agency requested $110,000 to expand its building, 815 N. 800 West, from 690 square feet to 2591 square feet. It serves about 850 clients a week.
"I have a real hard time with what was going on," she said. "We went to them thinking this would be an ideal project for them."
Mary O'Neill, whose 25-year-old daughter goes to Recreation for All Handicapped, said the $250,000 earmarked for a downtown parking terrace should have been split among social organizations that requested funds.
"My objection is that the handicapped population of Provo is being totally ignored by the City Council," she said. O'Neill said she supports downtown development, but not at the expense of recreation opportunities for the handicapped.
Only two social programs - the Parent Education Resource Center and Provo Community Action Agency - received grants, totaling $30,000. Under HUD guidelines 15 percent, or $255,000, of Provo's $1.7 million could have been given to social-service organizations. Community development grants are primarily targeted for removal of urban blight and helping low-income people.
Madsen said more social programs are competing for fewer dollars.
"We've developed a lot of social services that didn't exist before. At the same time, we've got the federal government cutting back on funding," he said.
All those that competed for money this year are good programs, Madsen said, but there just isn't enough money to go around.