Board hears Area 1 Agency on Aging report and approves letter urging protection of senior services funding

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors received an annual report from the Area 1 Agency on Aging on July 1 and voted unanimously to ask county legislative staff to draft a letter urging state and federal partners to protect funding for senior programs.

The presentation, delivered to the board by Megan (Area 1 Agency on Aging), outlined the agency's services for older adults in Humboldt and Del Norte counties and warned that federal and state funding streams that support nutrition, transportation and other programs are at risk. "Our services are like the icing on the cake," Megan told the board, "and if you damage those things in our communities, you don't need icing anymore if you don't have a cake." The board moved to request a letter of concern to the county's affiliate organizations and representatives "about these cuts," Supervisor Wilson said when making the motion.

The agency described domestic programs it runs or funds, including a 4-year area plan, HICAP Medicare counseling, volunteer driver rides, nutrition programs run by subcontractors, ombudsman investigations, caregiver supports, and the North Coast Home Share program that matches households and room-seekers. Officials said more than half of Area 1’s funds go to subcontractors (including meal programs) and that a number of recent state and federal one-time funds are expiring. The presenter warned that reductions in SNAP/CalFresh or changes to Medicaid (Medi‑Cal) could sharply increase demand on local services at the same time that grant dollars decline.

Board members emphasized the practical impacts discussed in the report: rising numbers of older adults experiencing homelessness, reduced meal program funding, and the volunteer and staffing needs for transportation and health-promotion classes. The presenter noted the Older Americans Act is 60 years old and that Area 1 is celebrating its 40th anniversary; she also said federal funding allocation gives the region a small population-based share, with a roughly 10% additional adjustment for large land area in the formula. She told the board the agency is monitoring a variety of state and federal proposals that could reduce or reorganize aging-related funding.

Supervisor Wilson moved that the board "receive" the presentation and direct staff to draft a letter of concern about the potential cuts and seek prompt distribution to county membership organizations; Supervisor Arroyo seconded. A friendly amendment by board members asked that the letter also be sent to the county’s federal and state representatives and that legislative staff (identified in the meeting as Sean) work with the chair on the final language. The board approved the motion 5-0.

The board also approved its consent calendar earlier in the meeting by a separate 5-0 vote; that routine motion carried without additional public controversy.

The Area 1 Agency on Aging presenter and several public commenters urged residents to contact legislators and to support volunteer programs such as drivers and nutrition-site volunteers. Officials cautioned that many of the agency’s funds are earmarked for particular services and cannot be reallocated, which limits flexibility if larger supports such as Medi‑Cal or SNAP are reduced.

The board will receive the drafted letter and the county’s legislative staff will coordinate distribution to CSAC/NACO (and other county membership organizations), relevant state and federal representatives, and county contacts as the board requested. No additional formal budget actions were taken at the meeting.