Welfare services face demand, budget cuts

As empty pockets deepen, welfare services in West Harlem and Morningside Heights are struggling to meet increased demand with fewer resources.

Forty-eight percent of the city’s residents were unable to afford enough food in 2008, and 23 percent lost part or all of their household income, according to a report by the Food Bank for New York City and Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. Of those who anticipated needing public assistance in 2009, 59 percent had never required it previously.

“We’re not able to serve the volume of the community in need right now,” said Dorothy Worrell, executive director of Harlem Dowling Children’s Services,. Worrell echoed a widespread concern among social service organizations that more people in need, coupled with extensive budget cuts, place intense strain on their operations.

HDCS faces a budget shortfall of $650,000 for the coming fiscal year. “We need to strategically diversify funding so that we are not at the behest of the pendulum of government funding that swings back and forth,” Worrell said, adding that HDCS is a nonprofit agency and therefore cannot raise money at the same rate as budget cuts. “There are services and programs that will not be around in July.”
Many organizations reported an increase in youth and senior populations seeking assistance. “We are seeing an upsurge of youth on the streets who are actually most affected by the current economic situation,” said Carolyn Strudwick, director of client services at Streetwork Uptown. With “youth shelters at capacity, sometimes these young people are forced into adult shelters where they face abuse and violence.”
Streetwork, which opened a new drop-in center in Harlem last year, is part of the larger Safe Horizon organization.

Claribel Jolie Pichardo, a spokesperson for Safe Horizon, said that during this time of financial downturn, the Streetwork center has had donors who cannot offer money but who have been giving non-essential resources such as art supplies or hearty dinners.

“It’s important for a lot of these kids who are on the street most of the time to have some sort of relief, whether that be making music in the music room, or creating art, or just being able to sit down and have a homecooked meal,” Pichardo said.

Meanwhile, Rachel Weinstein, director of development and communications at Volunteers of America of Greater New York, said her organization faces particular challenges in serving young adults who come out of the foster care system.

“What 19-year-old do you know who is ready to be on their own?” Weinstein said. “Many fall through the cracks and end up homeless. More and more people are entering the shelter system, and their issues are very complicated.”

Jesse Taylor, senior director of the Community Kitchen & Food Pantry of West Harlem, said that in addition to a “spike in our most vulnerable populations” of children and seniors, the pantry is also “seeing very well-educated people who have never had to turn to these programs. It is very awkward for them.”

With corporate donations down, Taylor said, the pantry must rely on resourcefulness to keep finances stable and meet increased demand for services.

“I say to my staff, ‘Give me a list of five nonessential items that we can do away with,’” Taylor said, citing salt and pepper shakers, plastic bags, cater-kits, and shredded cheese as small sacrifices that add up.

At Streetwork, which has seen government grants fall by five to 10 percent, private donors are indispensable.

“Individual donations make up for lack of funds from the government,” Strudwick said, adding that financial difficulties have necessitated staff cuts.

Those who depend on services offered by the Metropolitan Baptist Church on 128th Street—including its daily soup kitchen—expressed gratitude for the church’s services and concern for its economic survival.

“It feeds me—that’s number one,” said Patrick Tolbert, who comes to the church daily for food, shelter, and company. “I am homeless and it is good company. It is a place to hang out with good people.”

Duwayne Terry, who recently finished a year-long jail sentence, comes for free food and clothing.

“These guys provide a great service. It is people helping people. It is invaluable,” Terry said. “I need the help more than ever during these times.”

Because he was incarcerated, Terry said he has had difficulty finding meals and permanent housing. He is living temporarily at a men’s shelter on 135th Street, but is hoping to move into public housing.

Frank Gaddy, a volunteer at the soup kitchen, said the church will keep its doors open despite the financial challenges.

“We help everyone who needs help,” Gaddy said. “We offer a Bible study, but if that’s not what you want, you can come in, grab a bag of food, and be on your way.”