TOLEDO, Ohio — Local organizations in Toledo are raising alarms over the uncertainty of federal funding, with many fearing that a potential freeze could force them to scale back or even eliminate vital services. The confusion over whether these funds will be disbursed has left organizations wondering if they will be able to continue providing necessary support to the community.
One organization deeply impacted is the Neighborhood Health Association (NHA), which relies heavily on federal funds to keep services like Nexus Health Care running. Without this financial support, many of their healthcare services for low-income individuals would disappear, leaving a significant gap in access to care for some of the area’s most vulnerable populations.
“We help shelter, feed, treat, educate, support, stabilize, and revitalize our communities,” said Erin McPartland with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity plays a critical role in helping families achieve homeownership, and if a planned $4 million federal funding cut comes to fruition, those efforts may come to a halt.
The potential loss of federal dollars has prompted local leaders to come together and call for the continuation of these vital funds. The group emphasized that these programs are not merely services; they are lifelines for the community. Doni Miller from the Neighborhood Health Association pointed out that when funding is at risk, it’s not just about budgets—it’s about people’s lives. “Approaching the issue the way we have seen the issue approached today dehumanizes people in this country. It lessens the value of people in this country, it promotes the idea that some folks are valuable and other folks are expendable,” Miller said.
Other institutions, like the Ohio Theatre and its Children’s Theatre Workshop, are also grappling with the potential loss of federal support. The theater’s educational programs, which benefit local children, as well as its staff, are partly funded by federal dollars. A loss of this funding could threaten their ability to provide arts education and employ local talent.
“We all belong to the network of our community. Everyone who works in these nonprofits lives and thrives here in the greater Toledo area, and that is who we serve,” said Aimee Reid with the Children’s Theatre Workshop. “We are not some big oligarchy out in the middle of nowhere making demands of people we will never actually work with.”
The impact would extend beyond just healthcare and education. The Toledo Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which coordinates efforts between local courts and law enforcement, also relies on federal funds to operate. Many of their programs, from domestic violence shelters to taser purchases, are reimbursed by federal grants. A freeze or uncertainty in these funds could force the council to scale back or abandon critical public safety initiatives.
“We rely on federal funding to continue doing our work,” said a spokesperson for the council. “Without it, many essential services could be put on hold or reduced, putting more strain on our already stretched local resources.”
The rallying cry from these organizations is clear: federal funding is essential to maintaining the stability and well-being of Toledo’s community. As these groups wait for clarity on the fate of these funds, they continue to urge lawmakers in Washington to recognize the real-life consequences that a funding freeze would have on local families and services.
“If the funding goes away, homes will not be built, roofs will not be replaced, and homes will continue to be unsafe for families that live in them,” McPartland stated.
With many of Toledo’s community programs at risk, local leaders are pushing for a resolution that will ensure the continuation of these services, which so many Toledoans depend on for their everyday needs.