Crowley on Human Services

Q. Last winter five council members attempted to kill city funding for human services. After four standing-room-only public hearings, council “compromised” by cutting those funds from 1.5 percent to 0.06 percent of the budget.
What is your position on this issue?
Kathy Helmbock

A. Kathy, great question. Cincinnati has a long and proud tradition of providing for those who need our help the most. The City’s human services funding program provides critical funds to agencies such as the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Freestore Foodbank and many, many more.

I have been and will continue to be a staunch supporter of the City continuing its general fund commitment to human services. While I would like to have seen the funding level returned to 1.5% in 2007 I am very happy that we were able to increase the funding level by $200,000 last year for a total of $2.6 million. My hope is to continue to increase the funding annually until we reach 1.5%, as was the case in Cincinnati for many years.