An executive order that goes into effect today at 5:00 p.m. EST will end all disbursements on federal financial assistance programs, grants and loans. This could have a devastating impact on organizations such as ours, causing distress and life-threatening outcomes to thousands of people who are unhoused or on the brink of becoming unhoused.
What’s at stake for Primavera
While Primavera remains in a good financial position to carry out most of its housing, programming and services, some programs receive federal funding, and one program is solely dependent on federal funding. Our three emergency shelters and three drop-in centers/day shelters rely on some federal funding sources. Our emergency services make approximately 30,000 touches annually.
Less funding for emergency shelter, programs and services would have a dramatic and devastating impact on our community, impacting our entire community – economically, socially and culturally. Our largest program, Project Action for Veterans, which serves 530 veterans and their families annually, is exclusively funded by a federal grant. It operates in four counties with offices in Pima County and Cochise County. The assistance provided to returning veterans and their families is invaluable for their survival and sustainability.
Initiatives and programs that will also suffer include those funded by a $20 million Environmental Protection Agency community change grant that was to bring green jobs, training and infrastructure to the cities of Tucson and South Tucson.
Primavera has implemented an immediate hiring freeze and continues to look at ways to minimize spending and cut costs so that we are able to continue our work uninterrupted.
How you can help
I would like to make a personal appeal to you, valued donor, to make a gift today to help offset this shortfall in government funding. Our goal is to raise as much as possible while lawsuits and elected officials figure out the extent of this financial devastation in and for communities. No gift is too small nor too large.
Together, we can make a significant difference in the continuing crisis of poverty and homelessness in southern Arizona.