03/17/1982 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- e e . -~ Organization and direction in the form of staff support is still a need. Many jobs must be filled by salaried people, such as those involving counseling and at the Employment Division. Volunteerism cannot be expected to fill the gaps. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts stated that there has also been a change in the Aid to Dependent Children ruling. Now, funds cannot be used as before for vocational training. Funds can only be used for jobs programs to provide entry-level jobs. Funds cannot be used for other training programs leading toward upward mobility. This one ruling alone is likely to affect 400-500 people at Lane Community College in vocational programs. She continued by stating that the economists on the panel pointed out that the economy will not likely turn around until 1983 or 1984 because of the abandonment of the national housing program by the Reagan administration. This will increase competition among the social service agencies for funding. Much discussion was held on cooperative arrangements and fundings. Pain, anger, helplessness, and frustration were expressed, but people still have hope. They would like to find creative solutions. The Eugene Commission on the Rights of Women has sent minutes of this hearing to local, state, and Federal officials trying to work toward coalition-building and more specific hearings may need to be held. They are considering issue-specific brain-storming sessions on particular issues to help address the problems. A small town in Pennsylvania began a community corporation and expanded their food bank idea to a fuel bank, clothing bank, and soon there will be a shelter bank to help meet basic needs. On March 31, 1982, the Human Rights Council will hold an evening meeting for all human rights commission members. The purpose of this will be to try to build a kind of coalition among the human rights commissions and find ways to address the problems. They would hope that the council can help with guidance and support or networking with other cities. They would like to establish linkages to help solve problems and perhaps eventually inter-city problem-solving. Any support from the council would be appreciated. Concilor Lindberg stated that as a member of the Budget Committee of the Joint City/County Revenue Sharing for Social Services Subcommittee, they have passed two resolutions consistent with that thrust. The first resolution is a commit- ment for that committee to meet again in the fall, taking the initiative to encourage further cooperation among funding agencies to extend limited resources. The second resolution was to extend the invitation to the private sector as well as seek community approaches to solutions. The resolution stated "Whereas there is an increasing number of disenfranchised citizens in search of basic needs and on our streets, whereas there is a steady decrease of funding for services from the State and Federal government, including funding for health care and legal services for the poor, whereas the community continues to suffer from an economic decline and a high rate of unemployment, now therefore be it resolved that members of the Joint Budget Subcommittee contact community leaders of business, industry, and professional groups and board members of United Way in order to seek a community approach to provide social services combining governmental, philanthropic, and business and professional resources." MINUTES--Eugene City Council March 17, 1982 Page 5