By Nicole Sandler
Northside News
The Northside is home to many nonprofit organizations that provide essential human services. From access to food to mental health counseling, from childcare to resources for aging neighbors, these services are critical to our community.
In late January, when the federal government’s Office of Management and Budget issued a memo calling for a funding freeze on thousands of federal programs, the nonprofit community was badly shaken. While the memo was rescinded, funding is still threatened, and many organizations are experiencing a tremendous sense of uncertainty. We reached out to several Northside nonprofits to learn more about the potential impact.
The River Food Pantry, located on Darwin Road, operates eight food distribution programs serving low-income families, all of which would be impacted by changes in federal funding. Affected services might include the pantry’s curbside groceries and meals, mobile meals distribution, grocery delivery for homebound households throughout Dane County, and after-hours food lockers for those in urgent need.
According to Ryan Holley, grants manager at The River, halting federal funds could trigger an avalanche of negative consequences. He also expressed concern about the construction of their new pantry facility currently underway on the Northside which relies on a $3 million award in direct federal funding. Said Holley, “While these funds were directly awarded to the project, department-wide pauses in funding processes and reductions in federal staffing have the potential to significantly delay or disrupt funding that was intended to provide timely support for this project.”
Another Northside agency, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) in the Northside TownCenter, is operated by the Dane County Human Services Department and relies on over $100 million annually in federal funding to support programs. While the county has not yet experienced an interruption in its ability to draw federal resources, Aaron Collins, deputy chief of staff for County Executive Melissa Agard, expressed “deep concerns about the long-term impacts of the current administration’s policies.” Dane County programs that rely on federal support, including foster care, housing support and public safety initiatives, could all be at risk if federal funding does not come through.
RISE Wisconsin, located on Fordem Avenue, serves children, families and young adults, and four of its programs receive federal and state Medicaid funding. Two of these, Children’s Long-Term Support and Comprehensive Community Services, are 100% funded by Medicaid. Said Scott Strong, executive director of RISE, “if Medicaid were to be cut, we would no longer be able to provide mental health services to the children, adolescents and young adults that we currently serve.”
What are these Northside nonprofits doing at this uncertain time to ensure continuity of services that are so critical to our neighbors? They are focused on staying informed, as well as connecting and cooperating with other vulnerable organizations. “Collaboration is key to ensuring that essential services continue despite federal funding uncertainties,” said Collins. Holley added that The River Food Pantry participates in close partnerships with other food pantries throughout Dane County who are contending with the strain of uncertain government support. Ongoing developments will require widespread cooperation to effectively respond to impacts faced by many nonprofits right now.
As Northsiders, we can support these organizations. In fact, they are relying on us to do just that. “The Northside community has always been a strong advocate for the programs that support Dane County residents,” said Collins. “You can help by staying informed, reaching out to your elected representatives to express the importance of federal funding for local programs, and supporting local initiatives that provide critical services.” If the threat of federal cuts becomes a reality, community engagement and local philanthropy may play a larger role in bridging gaps.
