HARRISBURG - State and federal budget cuts during the past several years are severely straining the ability of local nonprofits to provide services to those in need, United Way of Pennsylvania officials said Thursday.
"We are in a crisis," said Gary Drapek, president of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, citing continuing heavy demand for services due to a 9.5 percent jobless rate in the Scranton area while budget cuts hurt assistance programs.
"It's the people served by these agencies that have no place to turn," he added.
The United Way released a statewide survey indicating that state budget cuts in fiscal 2012-13 hit 69 percent of responding nonprofits. Some 26 percent report cuts above $50,000, and another one-third report cuts in the $5,000 to $50,000 range.
The survey was compiled from responses by more than 800 nonprofit organizations that provide services in all 67 counties.
More than half of the nonprofits report receiving state aid cuts for the past two years. In addition, almost half of the nonprofits report receiving less federal funding this year than the previous year.
Among consequences of the budget cuts, respondents said 51 percent implemented layoffs, 38 percent reduced hours and 47 percent expanded waiting lists. More than one-third of the respondents said they turned away individuals needing services, while 21 percent stopped providing services to individuals due to lack of funding.
Those percentages are on par with the situation facing nonprofits in the Scranton area, said Mr. Drapek. He said cuts in the state Food Purchase Program mean empty shelves at local food pantries.
State cuts to a waiver program to help seniors remain in their homes are counterproductive, said Mr. Drapek. The cuts mean the loss of aides who visit seniors at home thereby forcing the seniors to enter more expensive nursing homes, he added.
Likewise, county Children and Youth Services agencies are forced to intervene in cases where a family is left homeless because of state cuts to shelter programs, said Mr. Drapek.
The survey is being released as the Corbett administration prepares a budget proposal for fiscal 2013-14 budget. United Way of Pennsylvania President Tony Ross said the survey is the start of an effort to engage Gov. Tom Corbett and lawmakers.
Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com