In April, the Center for Family Life, a nonprofit in Sunset Park, was hit with a major funding blow. More than $200,000 in AmeriCorps support was cut for the remainder of the school year by the Trump administration. Another $750,000 was slashed for next year, according to the Gothamist.
The organization scrambled to cover volunteer stipends through June. Still, it's unclear whether those volunteers will receive the college grants they were promised. Without AmeriCorps, the center could lose hundreds of after-school program slots, a serious concern for families already on long waitlists for after-school care and summer camps, the news agency said.
“For that generation, I think it could create some cynicism that they were cheated from something they were promised when they made this commitment,” said Kristie Mancell, a director at the Center for Family Life. “The ripple effect that we’re imagining that this will have is severe.”
AmeriCorps, often described as a domestic Peace Corps, offers young adults a modest living allowance and education funding in exchange for public service. Volunteers support after-school programs, clean up after disasters, work in health clinics, and often go on to pursue careers in public service.
The funding crisis stems from a nationwide decision by the Trump administration to cut nearly $400 million from AmeriCorps’ $1 billion budget. About 30,000 volunteers across the country lost their stipends, many just months away from completing their service terms. Many say they’re unsure if the education awards they were counting on will still come through, Gothamist reported.
In Sunset Park, the cuts have disrupted what leaders say was a powerful cycle. Young adults who once benefited from AmeriCorps would often return to serve their own communities. The program helped some become first-generation college graduates. Many went on to work in social services, youth development, or education.
In response, New York Attorney General Letitia James and two dozen other states have filed suit to block the cuts. More than $30 million in AmeriCorps funding is at risk across New York alone, affecting food pantries, senior services, veteran support, homeless shelters and more.
