Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nonprofit Funding Cuts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local nonprofits tell Lincoln County commissioners federal cuts are threatening shelters and services
Summary
A coalition of Lincoln County nonprofits told the Board of Commissioners that recent and proposed federal funding cuts are already reducing shelter capacity, program staff and service availability across the region.
Leaders of a Lincoln County nonprofit collaborative urged county commissioners on Monday to press state and federal officials to preserve funding after describing service cuts that, they said, are already increasing stays in emergency shelters and reducing program capacity.
The group, United in Purpose Lincoln County, presented estimates and local examples to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners at the board’s April 21 meeting. Jana Shays, a lead organizer for the collaborative, said the partners have compiled data they believe show nearly $100,000,000 in federal funding connected to the county’s licensed hospital and nonprofit providers is at risk and asked commissioners to help amplify those concerns.
Why it matters: County commissioners said maintaining nonprofit services affects public safety, child welfare and overall community well-being; several asked staff to share information about state- and federal-level contacts and grant rules. The presenters said cuts to federal pass-through grants have immediate local consequences — longer shelter stays, fewer beds and reduced services for domestic-violence victims, children and older adults.
Jennifer Bonnie, identified herself as a leader in local victim-service work and described cuts to programs that serve domestic-violence survivors, trafficking victims and children. She said her organization sheltered 134 people in 2024 — 86 women, six men and 42 children — for a total of 4,579 bed nights, and that grant reductions will reduce shelter capacity. Bonnie told commissioners her agency expects to lose about $105,000 on July 1 and an additional $199,000 in October; later in the meeting she said those amounts are federal pass-through funding.
Bonnie also described a three-year, $785,000 Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant that supports a regional coordination project; she said about a year and a half remains on that award but characterized future funding as uncertain. Commissioners asked whether state officials and congressional delegates had been contacted; Bonnie said local advocates had sought help but described state-level constraints and broad uncertainty over budget choices.
Commissioners and staff discussed next steps for local advocacy. Several commissioners praised the collaborative’s work to reduce duplication of services and asked for follow-up materials, including a concise summary of the federal funding streams at risk and guidance from the Nebraska Broadband Office and NACO (noting those organizations where they apply). Presenters invited commissioners and the press to a follow-up meeting in the Wells Fargo conference room at 10:00 a.m. for further discussion.
The presentation did not include a formal request for county funding during the meeting; presenters focused on public awareness, volunteer support and constituent advocacy to state and federal officials. Commissioners said they would pass information along to contacts at higher levels of government and continue the conversation.
Ending: Commissioners thanked United in Purpose members for organizing and said they would remain available for further discussions and follow-up information.
