VIC News

State budget impasse keeps senior meal program from getting federal funds

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:37:00 GMT

For many senior citizens, it is the only hot meal they get each day.

For others, it is their only contact with the outside world.

But the meal-assistance programs that benefit more than 6,700 elderly Los Angeles residents daily could end by Sept. 1 because of the state budget stalemate in Sacramento. The programs are funded by the federal government but administered by the state, which is now 55 days past the deadline for approving a budget for the current fiscal year.

"This is a direct result of the Legislature's failure to pass a budget, which is causing the state to run out of cash," said Rachel Arrezola, a spokeswoman for the Governor's Office. "As soon as we have a budget in place, we will be able to make these payments."

Linda Abrams, chairwoman of the Valley Interfaith Council, a nonprofit organization that operates a network of food pantries and food-assistance programs in the San Fernando Valley, said the funding bottleneck is perplexing.

She said "one of the most frustrating things about this" is that the money is not even coming from the state, but from the federal government.

"All of this is money from the Older Americans Act passed through to the state and then on to the city and to us. But, because there is no state budget, the federal government is holding up its funding."

Unfortunately, VIC has encountered a similar problem in years past, with the Legislature regularly missing the July 1

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deadline for passing a state budget. This year, however, the city has been unable to step in with bridge funding because it is struggling with a financial crisis of its own.
"Last year, the city was able to give us a loan to tide over our program, but that money isn't available this year because of the city's problems," said VIC President Sandy Bishop, whose organization works out of three multi-purpose centers and 11 other nutrition sites. "We're trying to figure out what we can do."

The city Department of Aging sent out an advisory late last week warning that funding may not be available to continue the meal programs after Sept. 1.

"We have not received any of the Older Americans Act funding for the current fiscal year," said James Don, assistant general manager of the city agency.

The city gets more than $14.6 million annually for the program, which provides 3,520 meals a day at dining centers and 3,221 more to homebound seniors. Of that, VIC receives about $90,000 a month, which provides 563 meals daily at its centers and 530 meals to homebound and mostly impoverished seniors.

"We had a similar problem last year when the state budget was delayed for so long and were able to provide a loan of city funds to carry us through. But that is about to dry up and there are no other funds available," Don said.

"This is money that has to go through the state to us, and I'm not sure there is an understanding of the problem and the way it was set up."

Bishop said she is trying to work out a solution among state and city officials and other social service providers.

"We want our voices to be heard," Bishop said.

"We have talked to all our state legislators about this and are trying to figure out what we do next," Bishop said. "We are advocating as much as we can and trying to figure out a solution as soon as we can. Sept. 1 is not that far away."

Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, has introduced a bill that would resolve the problems immediately by providing continuous funding for such programs even without final approval of a state budget. Assembly Bill 1699 has been approved by the state Assembly and is awaiting a vote by the Senate.

Arrezola said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not yet taken a position on the bill.

Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Van Nuys, said he supports the Hernandez measure and hopes it will be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor.

"This is a way to resolve the issue and make sure these programs can continue," Fuentes said. "But, it will be up to the governor to sign this."

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VIC's Labor Day Picnic and Program

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:23:00 GMT

VIC invites the public to attend its annual Labor Day picnic and program to be held on Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Northridge United Methodist Church located at 9650 Reseda Blvd. at Superior St. in Northridge. All are welcome and no reservations are required for the free family BBQ.

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Think Globally, Give Locally!

Thu, 13 May 2010 04:36:01 GMT

Saturday, May 15th - Sunday, May 16th

Better to give than to receive? Well now you can do both! On May 15th and 16th when you purchase and donate any five protein-based canned goods (seafood, meat, chicken, beans, soups and stews) you’ll receive a free FEED 100 Bag*. All food donations will be given to our partners, Valley Interfaith Council Food Pantry, which works to distribute emergency food for residents in need in the San Fernando Valley.

*While supplies last.

Whole Foods Tarzana Store
18700 W. Ventura Blvd
Tarzana, CA 91356 USA

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Whole Children Whole Planet Expo

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:48:40 GMT

Join us for the Whole Children Whole Planet Expo to be held on Saturday, April 24th from 9:30 am to 6 pm at the Highland Hall Waldorf School. The school is located at 17100 Superior St., Northridge, CA.

Speakers, workshops and exhibitors will introduce us to the benefits of non-toxic products, sustainable living practices, enrichment-learning programs, organic food and other important health and environmental issues to help protect our children and the planet. VIC is a Community Partner for this event!

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2010 Intergenerational Cotillion

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:24:40 GMT

Stay tuned for more information about making your reservation today!

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Please donate $20 to our East Valley MPC Family Fund!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:56:14 GMT

We provide essential services to our area’s cherished elders in need – members of our extended family. Seniors like the sweet couple in their 70’s, both on walkers with severe diabetes, the husband suffering complications from multiple surgeries and his wife legally blind. We deliver nutritious hot lunches to them Monday through Friday, and help them with household chores like vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes, doing laundry and taking out the garbage. Our Handyworker program makes minor repairs to their house. And we got them an emergency response system in case of falls. We’re empowering them to stay in their home together, independent and safe.

In affluent neighborhoods like ours, you might not expect that many seniors are in dire economic straits. We have a 96 year-old woman living in a camper on top of an old Ford truck. She’s frightened and hungry. We’re trying to solve the logistics of delivering lunch to her. A man in his 60’s lost his job and his home of 25 years. Now he’s living in his car parked in the driveway of his repossessed house. We’re trying to find him a low-cost place to live and some work. Actually, hundreds of seniors across the valley are living in their RVs and cars, constantly moving around to avoid parking tickets. Most of them are well-educated, law-abiding citizens with excellent credit ratings and no serious disabilities. They’re just financially destabilized, most often by ongoing medical expenses, now living on Social Security alone. We’re trying to find a place where these EVMPC family members can legally park overnight, so we know they’re safe and we can try to connect them to available city and county services.

This year our Department of Aging grant requires a $30,000 cash match to meet our operating expenses. So we’re asking as many generous-hearted folks from our community as possible to donate $20 each. Of course, if you can afford more it will be greatly appreciated. We’ve raised more than $8,000 already, from people like you who care about the well-being of the lesser of our elder brothers and sisters - our homeless and frail homebound seniors. Help us weave them a stronger and more secure safety net.

At East Valley, we take care of family!

East Valley Multipurpose Senior Center
5000 Colfax Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
818-766-5165

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East Valley MultiPurpose Senior Center 2010 Fundraiser

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:04:00 GMT

You were all so generous last year, we met our $20,000 fundraising goal! This year, our operating deficit will $30,000, so let's see what we can do by pulling together again, to support our mission of service to the cherished elders of our community. The economic crisis is taking an increasingly serious toll on their stability and well-being. You'll hear some of their stories at the rally. With every thoughtful donation of $20 (or as much as you can manage) we're weaving them a stronger and more secure safety net.

The range of services the EVMPSC provides to the homebound is pretty amazing – we deliver hot lunches; shop for their groceries, deliver them and put them away; vacuum, dust, do their dishes and laundry; make their beds, bathe them, rub lotion on their bodies and dress them. We provide safe wheelchair accessible transportation to their medical appointments and to handle banking and other personal business.

For working caretakers of parents with memory impairments or other disabilities that make it unsafe for them to be left alone during the day, we provide adult day care. The clients get transportation to and from the program, and enjoy exercise, music, fun activities, lunch and snacks. Ours is the most affordable service in the county, with fees priced on a sliding scale.

Everyone is well aware of the financial crisis affecting social service budgets at every level of government, including our own City of Los Angeles. Cuts have been made this year in the monies that fund the essential programs we provide for the frailest of our homebound and day care clients. And more cuts are looming on the horizon. The senior safety net is fraying under all this fiscal strain. So it’s imperative that we come together as community to protect our own. Your donations will also bolster our nutrition program, affordable trips, stimulating classes and other health-maintenance activities for active older adults. Hopefully, we will raise enough money to not only stabilize existing services, but also reach out to the newly emerging 60+ members of our community for their ideas and feedback on the innovation of new programs. We really appreciate your support in this effort. Welcome to our East Valley MPC family. We’re proud to count you among our members.

Every year East Valley Multipurpose Senior Center…

Serves 40,000 hot lunches in our community dining room.
Delivers 45,000 hot lunches to hundreds of the frail homebound.
Gives 1,200 hours of housekeeping and personal care support to the homebound.
Makes 12,500 one-way trips in wheelchair-equipped vans with seniors who can no longer drive.
Provides 27,000 hours of safe day care for memory impaired parents of sandwich generation caretakers.
Makes 200 home repairs free of charge, including installation of wheelchair ramps, handrails and grab bars.
Helps 300 seniors file their taxes, free of charge, working with AARP-trained volunteers.
Organizes 20 affordable bus trips to entertainment events, museums, casinos and nature destinations.
Offers 1,000 classes and activities like weight training, yoga, tai chi, current events, music appreciation, painting and quilting.
Conducts 24 intensive workshops training active older adults how to maintain optimal health.
Administers 250 free flu shots.
Styles 240 professional haircuts for a mere $3 each.

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How Green is My Faith

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:28:56 GMT

VIC’s Interfaith Relations Committee Presents

How Green is My Faith

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday evening April 21^stSt. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
3646 Coldwater Canyon Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604

Featured speaker:
Betsy Meiman
St. Mike’s Solar Panel Outreach Project

Come and learn how they did it and how we all can do it too!

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VIC Sponsors Census Outreach

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:06:39 GMT

The 2010 Census is around the corner - April 1, 2010 is National Census Day.

What is the Census?

The Census is a count of everyone residing in the United States. In March 2010, the US Census Bureau will send a form in the mail to every household in the country.

It’s Easy, Important and Safe

The Census form asks only 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Households are asked about the number of people living in your household, their age, race and gender. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share answers with anyone including law enforcement and federal agencies. Expect to receive your form in the mail on March 15^th. Complete and return your form by April 1^st.

Who Is Counted?

The Census counts everyone who is living in the U.S. – regardless of citizenship.

What is the Census Undercount?

In 2000, despite considerable resources to count everyone, the Census missed more than 3 million nationally and 76,000 in the City of Los Angeles alone. Senior citizens are among the most likely to be missed or “undercounted” by the Census as are low-income people, people of color, immigrants, and the disabled.

An accurate population count leads to major funding for Los Angeles. Census data determines how much federal and state funding should go to cities like ours. Each year, more than $400 billion in federal and state funding is given to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, public schools, transportation and much more including services for senior citizens. The undercount in the City of Los Angeles in 2000 resulted in a loss of $206 million in state and federal funds over the last 10 years.

Let’s all be counted – It’s Easy, Important and Safe

VIC congregate meal sites are hosting US Census presentations on March 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th – join us for a free lunch and gift bag and learn more about the census and what to expect. Here’s the schedule:

· March 23, 2010

Sunland Senior Center, 8640 Fenwick St., Sunland, CA 91040. Phone: 818/353-1413.
Alicia Broadous-Duncan Multipurpose Senior Center (MPSC), 11300 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331. Phone: 818/834-6100.
Bernardi MPSC, 6514 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91401. Phone: 818/781-3309.

· March 24, 2010

Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Senior Center, 5040 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Phone: 818/905-8985.
Casa Panorama, 14555 Osborne St., Panorama City, CA 91402. Phone: 818/892-5570.
Nikkei Village, 9551 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Arleta, CA 91331. Phone: 818/896-1955.
Simpson Apartments, 7541 Simpson Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91606. Phone: 818/765-7422.

· March 25, 2010

East Valley MPSC, 11640 Hesby St., North Hollywood, CA 91601. Phone: Phone: 818/985-6675.
Mid Valley Senior Center (Sepulveda Recreation Center) 8801 Kester Ave., Panorama City, CA 91402. Phone: 818/892-0892 or 818/893-3700.
Sylmar Recreation Center, 13109 Borden Ave, Sylmar, CA 91342. Phone: 818/362-9175.

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Martin’s Dream Through the Eyes of Youth

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:23:00 GMT

The program will be held in North Hollywood at Emmanuel Lutheran Church located at 6020 Radford, at the corner of Radford and Oxnard St. Please join us at 4 pm for a commemorative march on Oxnard St. honoring Dr. King. The march will be followed by the program at 5 pm and a reception at 6 pm.