Vet Threat
As the rolls of returning soldiers rise, a local veterans-service center is forced to cut staff.
by Deborah Bolling
Earlier this year, the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center was awarded top honors from the U.S. Department of Labor for the quality of services it provides veterans throughout the region. That doesn't amount to a hill of beans when it comes to funding the organization.
So, when Ed Lowry learned that money for the veterans center that he's in charge of were being slashed by more than 70 percent, he began making emergency phone calls and combing the Internet for funding to help bridge the gap. Last year, the center's budget was $2.2 million.
"This is happening at such a bad time," Lowry, the center's executive director, says. "Our visits went from 19,000 last year to 27,000 this year. They didn't give us any particular rationale for [the cut]. Apparently, there's no correlation between performance, success and refunding."
The nonprofit center, located at Fourth Street near Race, offers free employment, training and educational services to everyone in need — but particularly to veterans ["War Cries," Deborah Bolling, May 27, 2004]. With no money provided by the city, Lowry has had to rely on grants from the federal government and the commonwealth, along with donations from the private and business sectors.
Lowry was particularly disappointed to learn that the center was deemed ineligible to renew a Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program grant from the Labor Department that it had received in the past. The $250,000 grant, previously awarded on a performance basis, was unexpectedly retracted; Lowry says he was told that, for this funding cycle, "things had changed." In addition, the unanticipated delay of yet another federal grant and one from the state created the loss of $350,000. As a result, the center has to make severe cuts somewhere. Reduced staffing levels was the most immediate effect.
"We're laying off 11 people," says Lowry, noting that figure represents half of the center's staff. "We appealed to [our employees] to see if anybody's in a little better position to be let go than someone else. We don't feel good about any of this."
For more than 20 years, Dan Sickman has been working alongside Lowry on veterans issues. Known as the organization's jack-of-all-trades, Sickman has had a hand in fundraising, counseling and training. His last day on the payroll was yesterday.
"I've done everything else around there so, now I'll become a client," Sickman says, wryly. "But, I'll even volunteer my time 'cause I could never turn anybody away. The services will still be provided, but the wait time will be extra long because we have to cut back on our counselors. Our clients can't believe it. They wonder who's gonna help us. What I can't believe, though, is that the United States government is making new veterans everyday, but giving them less and less services."
Sickman says that he believes that programs like his are being shortchanged because of indifference.
"We all see that George Bush is flying all over the country every day making speeches," he says, rather bitterly. "I bet the cost of one flight would probably be enough money to save the center."
Seeking alternative funding options, Lowry says he's appealed to Congressman Bob Brady for help. Brady, who also heads the city Democratic party, has given positive feedback, Lowry adds.
"He says he'll do whatever he can — within the system," Lowry says. "He's even offered to reach out to the governor to find a way to give us some bridge funding."
Brady spokeswoman Karen Warrington says that while the congressman has agreed to help, so far, there "is no silver bullet."
"Because the center offers such a variety of programs, [Brady] is looking for a variety of options," Warrington says. "He can't say exactly where the money is going to come from, but the search has begun for appropriate funding sources. He's looking under every rock to see what he can find."
Meanwhile, state Rep. Marie Lederer, who earlier this year was awarded the state's American Legion Commander's Award for Service, says through a spokeswoman that she's also unhappy about the center's loss of funding.
"She opposes any sort of cuts to veterans services, but when cuts are done by the federal government, her hands are tied," Laura Goldberg says. "Her record does show, though, that veterans issues are always a top priority."
A top priority? Phooey, says Sickman.
"There are a quarter-million disabled American veterans, and the state always sends us the ones they don't know what to do with," he says. "Marie Lederer has never stopped by the center once."
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