ABCD DOWN $1, $2, $3, MILLION
Social services org losing $2.8M in fed funds; ‘We think they made a terrible mistake’
The ubiquitous Boston social services organization ABCD says the feds suddenly have pulled the rug out from under it, informing the nonprofit that its normal $2.8 million family-planning grant just won’t be showing up this year.
“Your application was reviewed favorably by the review panel based on the review criteria, however funds are not currently available to support your application,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wrote to Action for Boston Community Development in a March 30 email provided to the Herald.
The feds added in the note sent one day before the funding expired, “Your application will be held for later consideration should funds become available in the next 12-months per the date on this notification. Should you not hear from our Office within this 12month period, it means that your application is no longer under consideration for this funding opportunity.”
Years ago, when legendary former ABCD chief Robert Coard passed away, thenRep. Ed Markey in a eulogy joked that in the halls of power, the acronym for the influential organization stood for “Anything Bob Coard Desires.” But now his successor, ABCD Executive Director John Drew, is not enjoying that type of love from D.C. as the organization aimed at helping poor Bostonians is fighting to get this funding to keep its family-planning services program afloat and avoid layoffs.
Drew did note that the organization “isn’t going out of business” — it’s a $200 million nonprofit operation, so this isn’t an existential risk — but this change “makes us all just a little bit weaker.” Drew, who’s been with the organization for five decades told the Herald that this could mean 15 councilors laid off and a program terminated.
“We think they made a terrible mistake,” Drew said, adding that it appears they have been out-competed for this money without warning. “I cant believe for a minute they don’t have enough money.”
The organization, which was founded by “First Lady of Roxbury” Melnea Cass in the 1960s, focuses on services for low-income Bostonians, including job training, child care and heating assistance.
ABCD sent a letter on Friday to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, saying the organization’s leaders are “in disbelief” and “Thousands of our low income residents and communities of color in Boston and other cities in Massachusetts were devastated” by the news.
“Since 1973, ABCD has provided critical Title X health services throughout Massachusetts including on-the-ground services to those affected by the AIDS epidemic, assistance to teen mothers by providing child care while they continued their education, and pioneering programs for early diagnosis and treatment of infertility,” the letter, pleading for more funding, reads.
Asked what’s going on, an HHS spokeswoman responded in general terms, “Title X grants are awarded through a competitive process to public and private nonprofit entities. A competitive funding announcement was published at Grants.gov announcing the competition. Eligible applicants were reviewed by a panel of independent reviewers and evaluated based on criteria in the Title X regulations.”
The feds define the funding stream as “providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services.”
Drew said he’s also been on the horn with the staffs of local members of Congress, who he said have been receptive.
“The Congresswoman’s office has been in active conversations with ABCD and the Congresswoman has been working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to secure much needed resources to support the critical family planning services offered by ABCD,” said a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, whose district includes ABCD headquarters and many of the lower-income and predominantly minority Boston neighborhoods where the organization does much of its work.
ABCD also got some public support from At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty, who brought up the situation at the end of this past week’s Boston City Council meeting, urging his colleagues to help out.
“Bob Coard would be rolling around in his grave,” Flaherty said. “We need to do all we need to do in the effort to support ABCD.”