Volunteers respond to
Bush's proposal
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
Although a local senator applauds President Bush
for promoting the use of faith organizations for assistance in local
communities, some local programs are concerned about the restrictions
that will come with it.
Bush is publicly supporting the use of federal
dollars for the continuance of community service through faith organizations,
rather than using those dollars to create new government programs for
that purpose.
Sen. Ron Alting, R-22nd, favors Bush's proposal.
"There are a lot of faith-based organizations that take care of the
people who need help the most," said Alting.
Currently there are federal funds given to faith
organizations, but with new initiatives to support the organizations,
guidelines may be installed as well, said Julie Collens, director of
St. Ann's Soup Kitchen in Lafayette.
Collens said that she would like to wait to see
what kind of restrictions will be attached to government dollars before
deciding if the funds are right for her organization.
"Federal funds now often have strict set-ups,"
said Collens.
Collens said that she fears that if her organizations
accepted government dollars, they would be required to ask the people
coming to the shelter questions that would prove they are needy.
When the needy come into St. Ann's to pick up food,
there are no questions asked. People in need can come to the kitchen
to take food home so they can eat like a family, said Collens.
"It's not our place to judge whether they are needy
or not," she said.
If a person is needy during the time that the soup
kitchen is open, then that person is eligible to come and pick up food,
said Collens.
Maj. Robert Meyer, commanding officer for Lafayette's
Salvation Army, said that he is also reluctant to form an opinion about
Bush's plan until he knows what restrictions will be coupled with government
funding.
The Lafayette community already uses funds that
Bush supports.
Meyers said that his organization is mindful of
the money that is available from the Community Development Block Grant,
a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
He said that the organization's goals are targeted
toward projects that are already in place.
The Salvation Army in Lafayette is a narrow target,
said Meyers. The grant provides funds for groups that have bigger impacts
on society.
The Lafayette city council decides how the funds
will be allocated throughout the community as long as the grant's goals
are met.
The Community Development Block Grant has three
national goals, said Reid Nolte of the Redevelopment Commission of Lafayette.
Those goals include benefiting primarily low-income and moderate-income
households, eliminating slums and blight and addressing emergency needs.
Lafayette's Community and Redevelopment Department
is a city department that works with residents, neighborhood organizations,
social service agencies, economic developers and housing agencies to
assess community needs, according to a newsletter provided by the organization.
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