Sudden cuts to AmeriCorps funds have left four agencies serving Lawrence and Douglas County families more than $400,000 short to pay for dozens of essential employees.
Grants that were congressionally approved and contractually awarded have been canceled midterm by the Trump administration’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE.
The cuts mean that dozens of people’s jobs are in jeopardy, with a ripple effect that could touch hundreds of Lawrence families.
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has 55 AmeriCorps positions staffed for spring and summer, all eliminated as of April 25.
“Their only choice is to hire these members as staff to fulfill their commitment to the community,” according to a news release on behalf of the organizations. The organization anticipates a $300,000 financial impact.
The Center for Supportive Communities has 20 AmeriCorps members who support children and families in crises by providing advocacy, behavioral and mental health services, community connection and resource navigation.
“This sudden loss will also affect CSC’s agency staffing and devastate the families, schools, and community agencies who rely on these services every day,” according to the release. “CSC urgently calls on the community for support during this unprecedented challenge. Without immediate help, CSC faces significant reductions in services and staffing that will ripple across the entire community.”
CSC anticipates a $56,000 financial impact.
The Ballard Center currently has five AmeriCorps positions devoted to addressing food insecurity in the community.
The workers cook healthy food for kids at the center, and “Ballard’s only choice to maintain their service level would be to hire these members, there is no option to keep operating without them,” according to the release. The center anticipates a $35,000 impact.
And the United Way of Kaw Valley currently has two volunteer coordinators funded by a Volunteer Generation Fund grant that was also cut.
UWKV anticipates a $20,000 financial impact with the loss of the two coordinator positions. But “The value of the volunteer service coordinated with the help of these staff has a regional economic impact of more than $10 million,” according to the release.
“Importantly, AmeriCorps members are not eligible for unemployment, as their stipends are tax-funded,” according to the release. “Without pay or benefits, they are left to navigate next steps with no support from the federal government.”
The organizations are asking people to contact their congressional representatives and push for restoration of funding.
Contact information for the federal delegation representing Lawrence and Douglas County is available at this link. The nonprofit 5 Calls, 5calls.org, has phone numbers and templates of scripts to help people make their voices heard on several federal issues.
“Douglas County’s children, families, and community organizations cannot absorb this blow alone,” the release stated. “With your support, we will fight to protect our neighbors, sustain our programs, and restore the workforce pipeline that AmeriCorps has so long represented.”
Read more on how federal funding cuts and policy changes are directly affecting Lawrence and Douglas County community members in the articles linked below and on this page.
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