PROVIDENCE — The federal government shutdown has had minimal impact on the efforts of the Diocese of Providence to provide assistance and aid to the needy, but a tidal wave of misery threatens should the standoff between Republicans and Democrats continue, according to officials at several diocesan and parish agencies that are dependent on federal funding.
Of greater concern is the delay in government funding from last fiscal year, which closed on Sept. 30. Mary House on Smith Hill, part of the St. Patrick Church community network, is slated to receive $6,000 to provide food to the needy from the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs and the diocese, government funds that originate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We are already under the wave and a big wave is coming if the current shutdown continues. If that smacks you in the head, you’re left saying ‘Lord, what we can do?” said Janice Luongo, executive director of Mary House.
She said her agency is already reeling from an already delayed May allocation of federal funds, and fears the shutdown will only delay payment further.
Mary House primarily serves the Smith Hill community in Providence, but Luongo continues to receive calls for help from Woonsocket, Central Falls and Pawtucket.
“I can’t stretch myself when I already can’t meet the demand I am responsible to meet,” Luongo said. “My prayer life has increased waiting for the federal money and hoping that the shutdown is resolved soon.”
All the federal money goes to buying food for the food pantry and for the soup kitchen, where, during an average week, 140 people in need seek help. Last week that number jumped to 182 Luongo said.
The House has passed a bill which maintains government spending at its present level, but does not provide funding to implement the president’s healthcare plan. But the Senate insists that the president’s healthcare plan be fully funded and that Congress pass a continuing resolution without conditions to fund the government. The shutdown ends after the president signs a spending bill.
Since 1977, there have been 17 shutdowns. The longest was 21 days: from Dec. 16, 1995, through Jan. 5, 1996.
At the St. Martin de Porres Senior/Multipurpose Center, Director Esther Price said federal funding is a key component of its services, mainly its support for Meals on Wheels which delivers lunch Monday through Friday to some 80 elderly residents of the West Broadway neighborhood.
“It would be devastating if Meals on Wheels is cut or grants from the Department of Elderly Affairs are cut,” Price said.
But, the situation would be worse for the clients who visit the Cranston Street center daily, Price said.
Price said the center has become indispensable for many seniors due to the assistance it provides them in obtaining access to many programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Health Care Act.
“We have built a system here to cut the red tape and get people to return phone calls thanks to people knowing we have the bishop and the diocese behind us. By themselves these people that we serve have learned in the past that they can’t get answers [on their own],” Price said.
Jim Jahnz, coordinator of Project Hope, a diocesan community advocacy, parish outreach and social service assistance center located at 474 Broadway in Pawtucket, said the diocese received approximately $106,000 in a grant (Mary House is part of that grant) to assist feeding programs throughout the state.
According to Kathleen McKeon, supervisor of the Office of Community Services and Catholic Charities, the federal funds that diocese receives to help fund its programs are dispersed through the state government. She noted that one immediate impact of the shutdown is being felt by a VISTA volunteer who works in the office. His living allowance, which is paid by the federal government, will be delayed until the government is running again.
McKeon said that federal funds support services to the aging, as well as immigration and refugee services.
“Any significant delay, anything more than a matter of two or three weeks would create problems,” McKeon said.
The diocese receives more than $500,000 annually from the federal government through state agencies. When the government is reopened, funding will still be delayed as catch up spending will need to be prioritized.
“Although the money comes at various times throughout the year, any delay will affect the cash flow to the diocese for these grants,” McKeon said.
