Action Alert

DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING (DFTA)
	Proposed FY ’09 Budget
Contract Reduction Contract agency budgets have been reduced by three percent for senior centers, meal programs, and homecare services.	$5.5 million CUT
Healthy Aging Initiative This initiative makes use of the existing senior center infrastructure to address the health and wellness needs of the aging population. Each City Councilmember has identified one program in each district for funding.	$1.35 million ELIMINATED
NORC Supportive Service Program (NORC SSP) This program provides services to seniors who live in NORCs, including social services, medical services, educational/recreational services and volunteer opportunities. These funds support existing NORCs that did not receive funding through DFTA’s last NORC RFP.	$1 million ELIMINATED
Councilmember Discretionary Funds This funding provides each Council Member with $108,750 in discretionary funds to allocate towards aging services in their district.	$5.5 million ELIMINATED
Transportation Operating Costs This allocation supports the operating costs (e.g. insurance, fuel, and repairs) of 400 existing vans and other vehicles used by senior centers and other aging programs.	$3.9 million ELIMINATED
Safe Streets/Safe City Program This allocation for the Safe Streets/Safe City program provides crime prevention and crime victim assistance to seniors.	$547,000 ELIMINATED
Borough President Funding Borough Presidents share $7.4 million in discretionary funds to support senior meals, transportation, adult day programs, and additional senior services within their borough. In FY ’08, most of these funds were baselined, except for $533,000, which was restored in the FY ’08 adopted budget.	$533,000 CUT
Senior Meals – Increase in Raw Food Costs This allocation allowed senior centers to receive an increase in raw food costs of 35 cents for DFTA’s congregate and home delivered meals program.	$4.5 million ELIMINATED
Senior Center Space/Facility Cost This funding addresses space/facility needs at senior centers.	$3.7 million ELIMINATED
CASA for Seniors This funding supports partnerships between cultural institutions and senior centers to provide cultural enrichment for seniors citywide.	$1.1 million ELIMINATED

ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES:

Inform staff and seniors
Elected officials: Meet with your City Council Members and your Borough Presidents. Have your seniors contact elected officials with you or with other members

CSCS will continue to inform you of what is going on. We know we can count on our membership to send a resounding message asking that these budget cuts be restored.