Millions for coal subsidies; not a penny for human services

Abused children, unemployed workers, and homeless families would not have these problems if they would just get with the program and buy themselves a few key lawmakers.

But until they do, they're always going to be the easy and obvious target for budget cuts.

Kentucky’s 15 domestic violence shelters have raised funds with chili suppers, softball tournaments, candle sales, motorcycle rallies and telethons.

But it’s still a daily struggle to meet rising expenses, such as food and utilities, Ann Perkins, president of the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, told a legislative committee this week.

“Funding to provide even basic services is getting more difficult to secure,’’ said Perkins, director of the Safe Harbor shelter in Ashland.

Even if most human services are spared cuts in the next-two year budget — as House leadership suggested Thursday — most will still face serious shortfalls that could lead to severe cuts in programs and possible employee layoffs, according to advocates for services ranging from community mental health to local health departments.

“The shelters are in trouble,’’ said Sherry Currens, executive director of the domestic violence association. “All the social services are in trouble.”

And there’s no guarantee lawmakers won’t have to cut human services as they begin working out details of the plan to cope with a projected $1.5 billion shortfall over the next two years, according to Rep. Jimmie Lee, the Elizabethtown Democrat who is chairman of the House human services budget subcommittee.

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