(Spirit Lake)– Human service agencies such as Upper Des Moines Opportunity may be a thing of the past under the budget being proposed by the Bush administration.
Under the proposal, funding for Community Development Block Grants that are a key source of funding for human service agencies would be done away with. As a result, Laurie Ruuf of Upper Des Moines Opportunity says that agency and others throughout Iowa would probably be forced to close their doors. In Iowa alone, Ruuf says 6.8 million dollars in funding would be lost, which serves more than 300,000 people…42 percent of them children.
Ruuf isn’t sure where their clients would turn if agencies such as UDMO are forced to close. She says it would undoubtedly have a huge impact on counties and possibly even churches.
Ruuf says the Spirit Lake UDMO office serves close to two thousand people. She says the office is usually the first stop for people that have emergency needs.
Ruuf says if there was ever a critical time for human service agencies, this would be it. She says the drug epidemic is putting a very heavy strain on the system. Ruuf says the demand for services at local UDMO offices is up considerably compared to previous years.
Those concerned over the issue are urged to contact the local congressional delegation.
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