Federal sequestration fallout affecting GHA funding issues

On March 1, sequestration went into effect, and government agencies across the nation began feeling the backlash.

The Greencastle Housing Authority (GHA) is one those agencies. Housing Authorities across the nation are losing significant funding to operate their agencies.

On March 8, HUD sent letters to all Housing Authorities informing them that administrative funding would be cut to 68.5 percent, and Housing Assistance Payments would be cut to 94 percent.

This means that GHA will receive fewer dollars in calendar year 2013, or only 68.5 percent of CY 2012 allocated funds, to operate the Voucher Program in Putnam County.

Due to GHA's current debt to HUD, resulting from operation of the previous A-Way Home Shelter, GHA is operating at a deficit and may be forced to only be open four days per week rather than the current five days.

That will mean that current clients on the Voucher Program may see fewer hours that they are able to come into the GHA office for assistance or to sign required HUD documents. Any persons currently on the Voucher Program do not need to worry about losing their voucher.

A public notice will go out if funding for Housing Assistance Payments is reduced further, GHA officials said.

GHA received notice on Feb. 21, that the debt owed to HUD for funds used from the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to cover administrative costs of the former A-Way Home Shelter must be repaid to the U.S. Department of Treasury, and cannot remain in Putnam County.

GHA was originally informed by HUD that these funds would remain locally. However, with sequestration and the current economic downturn, HUD is now requiring that all such funds be repaid directly to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

GHA is in a financial crisis, and is seeking any and all financial support from Putnam County communities.

If GHA is unable to continue with its administrative operations, then the current Voucher Program will be transferred to the State of Indiana, or to another county. This means those persons currently on the Voucher Program will be required to go to another county to gain assistance for housing.

Currently the City of Greencastle is working with GHA and the new shelter group, Beyond Homeless, to try and support both of these critical county programs. The goal of the city, county, Beyond Homeless and GHA is to become solvent and maintain these support programs for Putnam County residents.

"We are asking that the county communities and residents support these programs through financial donations and volunteerism," GHA Executive Director Nicole Christlieb said. "The clients these programs serve do not stop at Greencastle city limits, but the community is the county of Putnam.

"In order for GHA to continue assisting families with housing needs it requires all of us within Putnam County to open our hearts and support the fact that homelessness and housing are countywide issues. Any and all contributions, volunteering or monetary, to GHA and the Beyond Homeless group allow these programs to flourish and serve our county residents."

It is also important to remember that there were individuals from Putnam County living at the former A-Way Home Shelter when GHA inappropriately used HUD monies to guarantee that the critical service remained operational. All Putnam County communities, Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Fillmore, Roachdale, Reelsville, Russellville, etc. have had homeless individuals benefit, or could benefit, from a homeless shelter.

So it is important to remember that the City of Greencastle cannot solely be responsible financially for the homeless and housing issues facing Putnam County, Christlieb stressed. It is a countywide concern and we need everyone's help to keep these services for Putnam County.

Everyone is asked consider making a monetary contribution to GHA or Beyond Homeless today so that the housing and homeless issues facing Putnam County can be resolved.