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Community Resources, Inc., a federally funded poverty agency, is facing major
cutbacks, according to Teresa Ward, director of the regional 11-county
operation.
CRI maintains community services in Grantsville. There is yet to be an announcement regarding any local cutbacks.
The agency has operated with an annual regional budget of about $877,000. The reallocation cuts $238,000 from their
budget.
Essa Howard, Director of Office of Economic Opportunity in Charleston, told the Hur Herald "The change in the funding
formula is to equalize benefits to low income families around the state." OEO funds go to 16 separate West Virginia
agencies.
Howard said "CRI will have to rethink their whole operation, like reducing Christmas baskets and other projects."
Howard said the agency has also lost some other grant money.
Ward said several of the counties covered by Community Resources are very rural,
geographically spread out and have a small population. They appear to be the
losers with the new OEO funding formula. "Therefore, CRI appears to be taking the biggest hit," she said.
Ward said the rural counties will come up short for a full-service office, in what
appears to be a capitate formula. She said OEO allocated $5,000 to operate each
of the 11-county offices. "Obviously, it is impossible to do that," she said.
Three or four county
programs will likely end up on the chopping block and up to 13 employees could lose their jobs. The agencies fiscal year
begins in January, so it is likely the changes will be made soon.
CRI serves the counties of Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie,
Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood.
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