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Office for the Aging warns federal cuts could hit seniors, plans local coordination on food and veteran services
Summary
Office for the Aging reported federal administrative cuts affecting ACL and HEAP and said the county will convene a food-security coalition on May 5; staff also plans to coordinate veteran counseling referrals after VA staffing reductions.
The county Office for the Aging briefed legislators on federal staffing and program changes and outlined local steps to mitigate impacts on seniors and veterans.
The office said recent federal changes eliminated regional technical assistance positions at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and disrupted HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) administrative capacity. The speaker told the committee that ACL lost staff and budget and that there is currently no clear federal mechanism to disperse remaining funds, which has implications for local service delivery and senior supports.
Office staff said Sullivan County has a 15% poverty rate and that seniors comprise a significant portion of those affected. In response, the office plans a focused meeting of the Sullivan Catskills food security coalition on May 5, bringing food pantries, the food bank and county partners together to coordinate ordering and distribution and to seek strategies for addressing diminished variety and quantities in food bank distributions.
The office also reported concerns about reduced VA staffing and counseling capacity. County staff said they spoke with John Little and will meet with Dr. Vanes, director of community services, to develop a local protocol so veterans who lose assigned VA counselors can be connected promptly with county community services.
Staff listed additional ongoing programs: nominations for statewide recognition of older adults, two new ISEP caseworkers, a new nutrition site operator and upcoming fitness and wellness sessions for seniors. The county also noted one resolution before the legislature related to a Department of Transportation agreement for veterans' medical transportation.
