Kennedy Center Staff & Services Jeopardized by Federal Cuts

"If Congress decides to slash federal aid for domestic programs for the remainder of the fiscal year, Charlestown’s Kennedy Center could be forced to lay off employees, discontinue key services and close sites as early as next week," Katherine McDonough, Kennedy Center Executive Director, announced last week.

A House Republican bill would issue deep cuts to community development block grant funding as soon as this fiscal year. Even if the Senate blocks that measure, President Obama’s proposed 50 percent cut in federal funding for the Community Service Block Grant over the next year would still jeopardize the viability of anti-poverty groups like the Kennedy Center.

McDonough said that the $220,000 the center receives annually from the grant is its main source of revenue. 

“The block grant is the foundation of the entire center,” said McDonough. “I can’t do without it. I have no money to pay salaries to particular jobs if that money goes away, which means those functions would go away, which means this agency might go away.”

The administration’s proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2012 would leave $350 million for community action agencies that can show that they successfully meet community needs.

On Thursday, Mayor Thomas Menino released a report on the potential impact of these federal cuts to programs around the city. According to the report, more than $30 million of direct funding to the city would be cut under the House plan. The report also details additional cuts that will affect Boston residents. You can read more about the report on the City of Boston web site.

No staff, no services

The Kennedy Center offers early childhood programs, child care, job training and placement as well as home care and recreation for the elderly. 

The center also provides home heating aid to many elderly Charlestown residents who own their homes but cannot afford heat. McDonough said that without full federal funding, the center wouldn’t be able to maintain the program because she would have to lay off the person who runs it.  

Although the Kennedy Center receives funding for senior services like in-home care though the state and Boston Senior Home Care, the center would have to discontinue those services because the person who manages them would also be laid off.

The center would not have to eliminate the all-day child care that it offers because the state pays for the service, McDonough said. 

 With accountability system, center has better chance of surviving  

To receive funding from the Community Service Block Grant next year, community action agencies will have to prove that they meet important community needs. That requirement may give the Kennedy Center an advantage over the competition.

McDonough said that the center’s online client tracking system records the demographics of clients, what services they request and receive, when they complete classes and when and where they find jobs. 

“We count everything and everybody. I can’t testify to what other community action agencies do, but I know about the one in Boston. And we are absolutely accountable.”