ROANOKE -
4:46 p.m.
Total Action for Progress (TAP) helps people
all over the Roanoke Valley with all sorts of different issues. The organization
serves almost 6,000 people a year, and receives most of is money from the federal
government.
TAP's total annual budget is $18 million. Of that, $15 million comes from the federal government.
TAP is preparing for a five-to-ten percent cut in funding if sequestration goes through. That would mean:
- A cut
of $700,000 to $1.5 million
- About 600 people getting cut from
service
- Possible staff reductions
CHILD PROGRAMS IMPACT
More than 1,300 children attend the Total
Action for Progress (TAP) head start and early head start programs every year.
"It's very disheartening knowing that there
are some families who would not benefit from our program. It's very hurtful,"
said Selena Childress-Mayo, director of Head Start. She says workers are preparing
for cuts, if sequestration goes through. "It could mean some of our children
would not receive services. It could certainly impact some of our staff. If we
don't have the children, we would certainly have to cut staff positions as
well."
JOB PROGRAMS IMPACT
"We have a lot of job programs that will be
cut, a lot will be cut," said Kimberly Caldwell, TAP's Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Caldwell says TAP is preparing for a five to
ten percent cut from federally funded programs.
A nine percent cut would
mean almost 600 people in the Roanoke Valley lose out on things like job
training and placement, veterans assistance, help for the homeless,
and help for domestic violence victim.
"It is a very frightening thing. We will
continue to operate, we will just adjust the numbers we can help. So the true
person that gets hurt here is our client, truly," said Caldwell.
Right now, TAP says it's looking at other
funding options to fill in the gaps, and there are still a lot of questions. TAP leaders say they're concerned about cutting too much and losing the quality of
service. People may have to wait longer for help, but TAP Roanoke leaders stress that critical
service will continue
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11:44 a.m.
TAP (Total Action Against Poverty) could lose $800,000 to $1,000,000 in federal money from the sequester, set to take effect on Friday, March 1st.
A spokesperson for TAP says they would not be able to provide services for approximately 593 people overall. Hardest hit programs would be Head Start and employment training.
Jenna will have more on this story at 6, and will speak with local leaders about sequestration tonight on WSLS 10 at 5.
