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Louisville Keeps Funding Constant For Ministries

From the Courier Journal

Metro government to set money aside

By Dan Klepal dklepal@courier-journal.com

Sixteen ministries that serve poor people in Jefferson County are assured they'll get the same amount of money from Louisville metro government next fiscal year as they did this year -- slightly more than $931,000 combined.

Mayor Jerry Abramson's administration is keeping the level of funding constant in spite of what is expected to be a difficult budget that is likely to feature cuts in other areas.

The money is used by the ministries for so-called emergency response and can go for food and temporary housing assistance and to pay caseworkers who help people in need apply for the cash.

Tina Heavrin, interim director of the city's Department of Housing and Family Services, said in an e-mail to Metro Council members that Abramson realizes funding of the ministries is a top priority of the council.

By setting aside the money now, she said, her department will be ready to process the paperwork for the funding immediately after the next budget is passed. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

"Rather than require the ministries to go through the lengthy application process, it is the mayor's intent to renew the … grants" at their current level, Heavrin wrote.

Mike Jupin, executive director of the South Louisville Community Ministries, said the money is vital because more people than ever before are asking the ministries for help. He said he is thankful that the administration is setting aside the money upfront.

"We're seeing more people and different kinds of people -- folks who have been laid off or who worked for temporary agencies that can't find work now," Jupin said. "Our resources are stretched."

The mayor previously had set aside $750,000 in next year's budget to help with homelessness prevention. Money for the ministries is in addition to that and will affect how the city handles other grants -- a process known as external agency funding.

In past years the city set up five committees, made up of council members and the public, to decide which agencies -- from arts organizations and small businesses to nonprofits like the ministries -- received city tax dollars.
There will be only two committees this year -- one for arts organizations and one for family services -- and a smaller pool of cash to hand out.

Jim McGovern, a senior adviser to Abramson, told council members recently that the amount of money for other external agencies is likely to be lower next year, although the exact amount hasn't been established.

"It's unrealistic to say the funding will stay the same," McGovern said. "We don't know what it will be … but it's unlikely we'll have the kind of money we had last year. Agencies that are doing something other than human services will have a tougher time."

Anne Smith, director of Ministries United South Central Louisville, said having the base funding is great, but she is worried that other ministry programs funded by city dollars will be cut out next year.

Smith said her organization just opened a wellness center for senior citizens in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood, and can only hope to get more money through the committees.

"How many of us would have to close our doors if not for this money?" Smith said. "Ours would be one."

Councilwoman and former social worker Tina Ward-Pugh, D-9th District, said the ministries serve every ZIP code in the county and provide services to people that the city would have to pick up if the ministries weren't there.
"And they do it on a shoestring budget," she said.

Reporter Dan Klepal can be reached at (502) 582-4475.

Additional Facts: Ministry funding

Catholic Charities of Louisville: $42,000
East Louisville Community Ministry: $53,300
Eastern Area Community Ministries: $36,300
Fairdale Area Community Ministries: $25,300
Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries: $25,100
Help Ministries of Central Louisville: $51,800
Highlands Community Ministries: $57,000
Jeffersontown Area Ministries: $12,500
Ministries United South Central Louisville: $87,100
Shively Area Ministries: $48,200
South East Associated Ministries: $59,000
South Louisville Community Ministries: $127,000
Southwest Community Ministries: $44,900
St. Matthews Area Ministries: $12,700
United Crescent Hill Ministries: $27,700
West Louisville Community Ministries: $221,600
Total: $931,500