Media Advisory: Homeless Services Community Leaders and local elected officials speak out against the Governor’s proposed budget cuts that would hurt the homeless - 16/01/2009
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Al Ballesteros, CEO
JWCH Institute
(213) 484-1186
Aballesteros@jwchinstitute.org
Homeless Services Community Leaders and local elected officials speak out against the Governor’s proposed budget cuts that would hurt the homeless
When: January 16, 2009 - 9:00 a.m.
Who: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (Invited)
State Assemblymember, John Perez (Confirmed)
Jan Perry, Member, Los Angeles City Council (Invited)
Brian Nolan, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
Gregg Scott, President and CEO, Weingart Center Association
Marie Torres, Ph. D., Vice President, AltaMed Health Services Corporation
Al Ballesteros, CEO, JWCH Institute
Representatives from Homeless organizations in Skid Row
Representatives from Community Health Centers in Los Angeles County
Homeless Men and Women dependent on State Services slated for cuts
Where: The Weingart Center / JWCH Clinic - Skid Row
515 E. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Why: At a time when LA County’s homeless population is estimated at 80,000 and growing, the Governor’s proposed budget reductions would disproportionately impact the homeless and underserved and gut medical programs for this needy population at a time of increasing economic despair. The cuts would:
• Eliminate optional adult Medi-Cal benefits, including dental, optometry and psychology.
• Reduce mental health services under prop 63 by $226 million annually
• Reduce income eligibility for Medi-Cal 1931(b) program and modifies eligibility for two-parent families by redefining under-employment.
• Increase the Medi-Cal share of cost requirement to the 2001 eligibility level for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled program.
Skid Row is home to the largest population of homeless men and women in the region. The safety-net of services provided and available are dependent on resources from the State of California and the Medi-Cal and Mental Health Services Act. The governor’s proposed cuts would wipe out a large proportion of available medical services and close the door on needed mental health, substance abuse services and dental care. Skid Row’s medical programs for the homeless would be devastated should the cuts continue and a very sick population in critical need of services would be “left out in the cold.”
Media Photo Opportunities: Homeless Men and Women Dependent on State Services will be holding Giant State Benefits Cards with notations these are either cancelled, possibly cancelled or with large looming questions marks.
