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John Daley ReportingDire warnings today about the poorest of the poor in Utah. At a hearing at the Capitol, recipients of state funding for the poor, homeless and disabled painted a stark picture of the impact of a major funding shortfall.
We're talking about 2 million dollars. Without that money, hundreds of Utahns will lose a financial safety net with nowhere to turn.
Democratic lawmakers organized the hearing about the General Assistance program, which is 2 million dollars short of what it needs. If funding isn't restored, 400 to 600 people -- many who are poor, homeless, or disabled-- will lose a state payment of $261 a month.
Advocates and current and former recipients say help is crucial.
Nancy Branan, General Assistance Recipient: "Please look at the whole big picture for all of us. Some of us, we'd pay taxes, we'd work, we'd do anything; we can't work."
Nancy Branan, General Assistance Recipient: "But now I will be on the street, so please look at it."
Dave Schilling, Former Recipient: "They need to keep general assistance where it is now so they can help people in dire need of help. Instead of cutting it in half, they need to keep it where it's at." Question: And if that doesn't happen? "There's gonna be homeless people, hungry people, disabled people who don't have nothing."
Tom Love, United Way Board of Directors: "Given Utah's strong economy, it's clear our state has the resources to meet the needs of this very, very small but vulnerable population."
One major challenge is that the federal government is cutting funding to a number of programs helping the poor, leaving states in a squeeze.
Republican lawmakers in control of the legislature did partially fund the program, but it's growing so fast state spending isn't keeping up with the needs and the GOP leadership says it chooses to spend money on other important priorities.
This is an election year. Democrats clearly want to highlight the situation, as the state has budget surplus.
Our request for an interview with Senate Republican leadership today was turned down.
