Ann Arbor City Council allocates $1.27 million from general fund for human services programs
The Ann Arbor City Council allocated $1.27 million from the city's general fund Monday night to several community nonprofit agencies for human services programs.
The funding was previously approved as part of the city’s fiscal year 2010-11 budget, but the allocations weren't yet finalized.
The resolution approved by the City Council states all projects being funded must give priority to low-income residents and performance by each nonprofit agency will be monitored by the city-county Office of Community Development.
In response to a formal request for proposals, the city-county Office of Community Development received 67 proposals for grant funding from 47 nonprofit entities. Their requests totaled $3.8 million.
The proposals were reviewed by the Joint Human Services Review Committee, which is comprised of three members appointed by the City Council, three members from the Urban County and three Community Development staff members.
In addition to money from the city's general fund, $343,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds are being distributed to various human services agencies, along with $100,000 from Washtenaw County government's general fund.
Mayor John Hieftje recently stated that while the state and county have cut funding for human services, Ann Arbor actually has increased its commitments over the years and remains one of only two cities left in the entire state of Michigan that still allocates money from its general fund for human services programs.
Here's the complete list of agencies and grant amounts:
City of Ann Arbor General Fund
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, Inc. $25,500
Ann Arbor YMCA $5,850
Avalon Housing, Inc. $80,750
Barrier Busters Action Group $20,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County $9,000
Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw
• Fr. Patrick Jackson House $12,100
• The Oaks $10,000
• Maximizing the Independence $22,000
• Emergency Food Program $6,300
• Employment Skills/Goal Setting Workshops $17,550
• Neighborhood Senior Services $50,000
Child Care Network $210,000
Community Action Network
• Preventing Evictions of Hikone & Green Baxter $20,400
• School Comes First! Hikone and Green Baxter $23,800
• Food & Health Care Hikone and Green Baxter $8,500
Community Housing Alternatives $8,500
COPE $19,295
Domestic Violence Project, Inc. $38,250
Family Learning Institute $26,076
Food Gatherers $123,200
HIV/AIDS Resource Center
• HIV/AIDS Housing Assistance Program $13,200
• Harm Reduction Program $5,000
Home of New Vision $25,000
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Washtenaw Co. $38,500
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County $10,000
Legal Services of South Central Michigan $73,000
Michigan Ability Partners
• Housing Supports Team-Permanent $34,000
• Representative Payee $18,121
Packard Health Inc. $38,250
Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan $15,000
UM Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels
• Meal Delivery to the Under Age 60 Homebound $10,000
• Weekend Meal Delivery $16,000
UM Nurse Managed Centers/Maple Meadows $16,250
UM Housing Bureau for Seniors $24,000
The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan $19,500
The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan $30,000
Washtenaw County CSTS/Project Outreach (PORT) $117,700
Washtenaw Literacy $27,500
SUBTOTAL $1,268,092
Human Service Contingency $7,652
TOTAL $1,275,744
Washtenaw Urban County CDBG Funds
(Including City of Ann Arbor portion)
CDBG Public Service Funds
Northfield Human Services $40,885
Ozone House, Inc. $51,700
Shelter Association of Washtenaw County
• Shelter Association Service Center $58,300
• Night Shelter Program $151,015
• Delonis Center Health Clinic $32,500
SOS Community Center (See WC GF as well)
• Housing Crisis Services $8,600
TOTAL $343,000
Washtenaw County General Fund
SOS Community Services
• Housing Crisis Services (See CDBG) $46,400
• Homeless School-Aged Children's Program $13,200
The Corner Health Center $20,000
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels $20,400
TOTAL $100,000
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 3 p.m.
SOS housing crisis services, the corner health center, etc are all in Ypsilanti. They might as well rename the contributions from the Washtenaw County General Fund, the Ypsilanti General Fund. Hikone & Green Baxter only have 52 units in total. How many people are constantly being evicted? I'd be curious to know how many of these non-profits would survive if it was up to only members of the community to support them. I think probably half would fold up shop. The government shouldn't be in the business of supporting religious groups charitable services. One of the Bush administration's gifts to the nation. City council can now return to it's previously scheduled work of shutting off the streetlights. :P
bunnyabbot
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:37 p.m.
I don't like my tax dollars going to planned parenthood! GRRRR
jcj
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.
@bhall I have no problem with meals on wheels as such. I was just wondering how that worked. If it was truly run by the U of M or what part the city plays in it. It appears you have answered the question I had regarding meals on wheels. I was just curious what the cities roll is in these programs. After all they are called UM programs.Why not the Ann Arbor meals on wheels. Any time the city give money to the U of M I think I have a right to ask why. There is too much giving away of tax payers money with no questions asked! @LBH "The number you are picking on with apparently delight, most likely to irritate and provoke people, is only about 2.3% of the total amount." That is the problem in a nut shell! Too many people say its only this much. Pretty soon those 2.3% of the budget programs add up to 100%! I don't have a particular problem with any of the programs I questioned after doing some research. BUT I reserve the right to ask where every penny of my tax dollar goes!
bhall
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 1:13 p.m.
@JCJ, I don't know what the other organizations on your list do, but obviously, the UM Meals on Wheels program delivers meals to needy seniors who have difficulty cooking or leaving their homes. And by the way, the program uses volunteers to do it. I believe the UM affiliation comes from the program operating from a kitchen at one of the UM medical buildings. So your "tax dollars" as you say are not going to subsidize any UM operation. If you are uncomfortable with tax monies being spent to deliver meals to seniors, then say so. Don't build up a staw man.
bruceae
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.
@JHW426, I see that they are giving a bunch of money to the Catholic Groups too so they are an equal opportunity offending group.
JHW426
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
It's great to see my tax dollars at work. I'm making mandatory contributions to groups like Planned Parenthood.
Fred&Barney
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
C'mon, what about some money to fight the good fight in Arizona...
a2junkie
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
Reckless spending fools. We need to vote these people out.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.
LBh@ "@Marshall Applwhite and @Craig Lounsbury, 1.27M doesn't cover as much road work as you think, and $30,000 even less than that. The number you are picking on with apparently delight, most likely to irritate and provoke people, is only about 2.3% of the total amount." I didn't mention road work at all. Please read my posts more critically before accusing me of things I did not say. The two sources I "picked on" I see no taxpayer roll for.
uawisok
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
Societies are judged by how it treats it's most vulnerable. As we post smarmy comments with our bellies full and a roof over our heads...just a thought.
bruceae
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.
So 2 other stories today about not being able to pay the police andfiremen, can't fix the roads but here we go wasting more money that we don't have. Can we please have the elections early so we can get people on the council that understand what's going on?
jcj
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.
Curious what these do? I will have to do some research but it seems we already subsidize the UM through no property taxes. UM Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels Meal Delivery to the Under Age 60 Homebound $10,000 Weekend Meal Delivery $16,000 UM Nurse Managed Centers/Maple Meadows $16,250 UM Housing Bureau for Seniors $24,000
Speechless
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
Human service programs are basic, essential services, like fire and police. Should there be any reason to complain, it's that the amounts are too small.
LBH
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
Thank you for including this list. Another interesting thing to know would be, how much do these agencies overlap, IE is there any coordination across agencies? @Marshall Applwhite and @Craig Lounsbury, 1.27M doesn't cover as much road work as you think, and $30,000 even less than that. The number you are picking on with apparently delight, most likely to irritate and provoke people, is only about 2.3% of the total amount.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 7:28 a.m.
how come my "Mens Center of Southeast Michigan" doesn't get any love...errr....money?
Marshall Applewhite
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 7:22 a.m.
You can buy an awful lot of road for $1.27M.......that should take priority over "The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan"
Awakened
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 6:51 a.m.
Wow! Good to know that Ann Arbor's fiscal crisis is over.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 : 6:49 a.m.
If I was running the show I would eliminate these two for sure... The Student Advocacy Center of Michigan $19,500 The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan $30,000