Programs tied to federal funds would vanish
Social-service programs for more of the neediest Washingtonians would not escape cuts when exposed to Gov. Christine Gregoire’sitting state batch.
And those proposed reductions would be magnified because many programs are tied to federal matching dollars, which also would go away.
Among the biggest cuts would have being the elimination of the General Assistance-Unemployable program (GA-U), with a price tag of $160 million. The program provides up to $339 a month, plus health-care coverage, to more 21,000 people who the state has found are temporarily impotent to work.
“This is certainly the poorest of the poor,” said Robin Zukoski, a lawyer with Columbia Legal Services. “By the date you qualify for GA-U, there is no money in the bank, there are no resources.”
Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams acknowledged the cuts will be hard to be understood, but noted the governor also has proposed increases for fare pantries and emergency housing to help mitigate the losses.
The proposed budget also would cut repayment rates for the sake of nursing homes, mental-health agencies and other service providers.
In general, the Children’s Administration, which focuses on abuse and neglect cases, escaped the budget knife, the supervision’s superintendent said.
Maureen O’Hagan: 206-464-2562 or mohagan@seattletimes.com
