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Area agency on aging warns of funding cuts, asks Alamosa council for increased local allocation
Summary
South Central Colorado Seniors told the council federal funding is flat and state allocations have declined; the agency cut services and stopped homemaker services in March and says its new resource center is 60% complete but unfunded.
A representative of South Central Colorado Seniors, the region’s area agency on aging, told the City Council that federal funding is essentially flat and state allocations to the agency have fallen, leading to service reductions and a request for increased local support.
The presenter said state funding declined about 8.3% over the prior two years and that the agency recently learned of an additional allocation cut of roughly 3%. As a result, staff reduced congregate meal service days at multiple valley sites — eight sites were reduced from five days to four — and the agency has placed some home‑based services on a wait list. Homemaker services were described as having “completely spent out” their funding and were paused in March.
The presenter also addressed community questions about a partially completed facility: the agency said it received $850,000 through Senate Bill 290 to build a resource center; construction is roughly 60% complete, but other expected funding did not materialize and the project is on hold pending additional grants or local support. The speaker asked the council, “if there’s any way at all to increase our allocation,” and offered the agency’s phone number for community members interested in supporting a sponsor‑a‑senior program.
Councilors and the presenter discussed the agency’s May 9 aging conference at Sky High Park and a new “sponsor a senior” option intended to let individuals contribute meals for homebound older adults. Councilors acknowledged the difficulty of budget and grant competition and thanked the agency for continuing services under funding pressure.
The presenter encouraged residents to call South Central Colorado Seniors at (719) 589‑4511 for information on sponsoring a senior or other support. The agency said it serves the entire San Luis Valley and identified maintaining the full suite of services — including congregate meals, homemaker services, medical equipment assistance and material aid — as critical to keeping older adults at home.
