Feds seek to strip Philadelphia Housing Authority of Head Start funds

[Judi Lynn]

June 5, 2004 6:40 AM



AP Newsbreak: Feds seek to strip Philadelphia Housing Authority of Head Start funds


WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration is poised to end Head Start funding for the Philadelphia Housing Authority, calling the program poorly run with employees' health and criminal backgrounds routinely unchecked and children allowed to play near dangerous areas.

The housing authority, which is appealing the move, responded with a charge of "institutional prejudices" on the part of a Republican administration seeking to cut federal spending at the expense of poor inner-city minorities.

In a May 28 letter obtained Friday by The Associated Press, the U.S. Administration for Children and Families said it will terminate the Head Start grant because of the housing authority's yearlong failure to correct major problems in the program. Head Start is an education and developmental preschool program for the poor.

"If the health and safety of children are at risk, we act immediately," Windy Hill, associate commissioner for the federal Head Start bureau, said in an interview. "That's common sense."
(snip/...)

http://www.whptv.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=BE3B6242-B5DE-4C3B-BAD5-FB8B7D35F830

[NewHampshireDem]

1. Yeah, why do something about the "dangerous areas"

when you can simply close down the program? Why give them adequate funding to run the background checks when you can simply close down the program? :grr:

[Mari333]

2. They have pulled all the funds from Head Start in this county also

I called yesterday attempting to find a job with Family Outreach, a service here in Michigan that provides the poorest families with resources available such as education in raising children, resource availability for the poor , and I was told "we are down to the bone, cutting staff right and left, there is nothing for anyone. "
Where I live, the rural areas are so poor the only way people can survive in the winter is to use wood to heat what homes they have. There are slumlords in town, even in this small town, who have raised the rents so high that the poorest people have to leave, (Ive seen that before!), and they are moving out of a town they have lived in for years and years.
The wealthy are buying second homes here, and the poor are being moved out.
The middle class is being squeezed out also by the higher local taxes, which no one can afford, especially the elderly on fixed incomes.
The children in all of the US are the ones who will suffer and the elderly.
Compassionate conservatism? No child left behind? My ass!
Things are becoming darker and darker.
and the Bush admin has looted the Treasury to fill the coffers of their wealthy friends.
Dark days indeed.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. I always like the reason they give to screw us over

Either it's "common sense" or "a balanced approach". Either one means they win, we lose.

BTW, my wife works at Head Start and is on summer hiatus. It will be interesting to see if the local facility still exists next fall. I know that if * wins the program will be cut nationwide. No funds available because of the "war on terra", you know. It's only common sense.