Pa. Jewish Groups Brace for Impact of Cuts, Fear Worse to Come

While social-service spending fared better than other government operations in Pennsylvania’s just-passed budget, Jewish charities say the cuts will impair their work with the poor, elderly, and other vulnerable groups, writes the Jewish Exponent.

Higher education bore the brunt of cuts in the $27.3-billion spending plan, losing a fifth of its state support, while the Department of Public Welfare was cut by 0.5 percent.

“On balance, the cuts were not as bad as we thought they were going to be,” said Kristin Rantanen, a spokeswoman for JEVS Human Services, which operates group homes for mentally ill and disabled adults. The state reduced spending on group homes by $5-million after mulling a $27-million cut.

But Ms. Rantanen said steeper cuts in public assistance for low-income families will affect people the group serves, particularly through its employment and vocational programs. Groups that supply food pantries will also see their state aid drop.

Brian Gralnick of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia (which publishes the Exponent) said Jewish charities fear the state’s departments of Public Welfare and Aging will be in line for deeper cuts next year.

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