The Providers’ Council has joined 50 other organizations in a letter urging Congressional leadership to protect and maintain full funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). The SSBG has been a critical source of funding for state and local governments to support a wide array of human service programs that directly benefit children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable families.
The letter, which was signed by diverse stakeholders including associations of state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups, emphasizes the importance of SSBG in providing services such as adult day care, foster care, child care, in-home support, and meal programs for vulnerable populations. The flexibility of SSBG allows state and county governments to address gaps and shortfalls in a variety of program areas, ensuring that families receive the necessary support to thrive.
Created in 1981, SSBG has consistently been funded at $1.7 billion since 2003. This funding has been instrumental in providing a broad range of services across 29 different program areas. In 2022, SSBG served over 20 million individuals, with 46% of recipients being children and 54% adults. The programs supported by these funds help protect individuals from abuse and neglect, provide vital services to families, and offer much-needed assistance to vulnerable adults and children.
“Maintaining full funding for the SSBG is not just a matter of preserving funding for programs—it’s about ensuring that our communities continue to have the resources necessary to care for and protect the most vulnerable,” the letter states. “We cannot afford to make cuts to this critical lifeline.”
The Providers’ Council remains committed to advocating for the continued support of human services across Massachusetts and nationwide, ensuring that vital programs remain funded to meet the needs of all individuals, families, and communities.
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