| DFTA Lists 105 Senior Centers to Be Closed |
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| Friday, 04 March 2011 11:45 |
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New York City’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) has compiled a list of 105 senior centers which the City would be forced to close as a result of a proposed funding shift in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed State Budget. The Governor’s proposal would reallocate the State’s allotment of Federal Title XX money, $25 million of which has traditionally been used by New York City to fund senior centers, to supplant current state and local funding on child welfare services. "This potentially devastating loss of state funding would profoundly affect senior centers across New York City,” said Christopher Miller, Director of Public Affairs at DFTA. “We are working hard to have this action reversed, but unless the state dollars are restored, DFTA will be forced to close up to 105 of its 256 senior centers." The list of proposed closures would wipe away approximately 40% of the City’s senior center system, impacting an estimated 8,000 seniors in every part of the City. The targeted centers were reportedly chosen in order to reduce capacity by 30% in each Community District (CDs) with the exception of those where only one center was operating. Individual centers were selected in order to have “the least impact” on seniors in those CDs. Selection factors included the number of meals served, utilization and certain other operating issues. The 105 centers to be closed are operated by 60 separate sponsoring organizations. In almost one third of these cases, sponsoring organizations saw the loss of more than once center. Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA) and Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens (CCBQ) took the largest numbers of hits – losing eight centers each. Regional Aid for Interim Needs, Inc. (RAIN) and Fort Greene Senior Citizen Council would lose six centers each. Institute for Hispanic Elderly would lose three. In 41 cases, sponsoring organizations lost only one center. However, it was not clear at this point how many of these cases represent single-program, stand-alone centers. “The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) is gravely concerned about the proposal to shutter over 100 of New York City’s senior centers, which provide vital nutrition and other supports to vulnerable elderly New Yorkers,” said Fatima Goldman, FPWA’s Executive Director and CEO. “The services provided by these centers have proven to be extremely cost-effective in helping seniors maintain independent living for as long as possible. New York City’s senior centers are critical to the health and well-being of tens of thousands of our city’s elderly residents, and FPWA will continue its vigilant advocacy efforts to preserve their Title XX funding.” “Unless this Title XX funding cut is restored, the social commitment New York has made to our older adults for decades will be broken,” said Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses. “Closing these centers means ending a vital link between vulnerable older adults and the communities they helped to build. Without neighborhood senior centers, more older adults will end up at risk and isolated in their own homes or in institutions. We need to do the right thing and keep these centers open, so we don’t create gaping holes, not only in our social safety net for older adults, but also to the moral fiber of our City.” “This will truly be devastating to the 1,150 seniors who rely on these CCBQ Senior Centers every day for a hot meal, activities, services and support,” said Judith Kleve, Vice President for Older Adult Services at CCBQ. “Seniors will be forced to choose between food and paying for other expenses, such as, medicine and rent. Isolation and depression among older adults, many who are widowed, will only increase if our doors close.” Click here for a complete listing of the impacted centers. |
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