President Bush's proposed budget would eliminate federal aid for several long-running programs aimed at preventing drug use and crime among Lawrence youths.
Kris Hermanson, director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority's residence services and overseer of the programs here, said Bush's budget plan would eliminate the so-called Drug Elimination grant for housing programs across the nation.
President Bush's proposed 2002 federal budget would eliminate money for the Public Housing Drug Elimination grant. In Lawrence, that federal grant pays the salaries of three people who work with the Boys and Girls Club, public housing Scout troops and other youth and adult programs. Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Club, site supervisor Sean Pearson meets with a group of children to organize a basketball team.
"That news is somewhat shocking to us who are running these programs," she said. "The grant helps address the war on drugs."
The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority this year received $160,000, its portion of the federal grant through Housing and Urban Development.
The Drug Elimination grant is used to pay for adult and youth programs throughout the housing agency and with community partners, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence and the Lawrence school district, Hermanson said. The money also is used to pay for three staff positions. The program has existed here with federal aid since 1992.
Last month, Bush proposed a $1.9 trillion federal budget for next year that would cut taxes, reduce the national debt and increase spending on education, medical research and the military.
But, beneath the budget are the cuts.
For example, Bush said he wanted to terminate the $316 million Drug Elimination grant that combats drug abuse in public housing because "the program was found to have limited impact" and "regulatory tools such as eviction are more effective."
He also proposed cutting road building, community health care, corporate subsidies and a host of other programs.
Hermanson said the agency's programs focus on preventing drug abuse.
"We provide youth with structured and positive activities that keep them off the streets and hopefully off drugs," she said.
To keep the programs going, Hermanson said she is talking to politicians in Washington, D.C., and other organizations.
"We have really built the program, and I would like to continue to build it," she said. "I think loss of the money would really be a detriment to the program."
Congressman Dennis Moore, a Lenexa Democrat, said the Drug Elimination grant is one reason why Congress should have a budget before adopting tax cuts and new spending proposals. He was appointed to the budget committee this year.
"I know this grant has been an important part of a model housing operation in Lawrence, and those who have benefited from the grant at least deserve a hearing before Congress or the president decides to eliminate it," Moore said.
Last year, the Lawrence Housing Authority served about 400 youngsters in its youth programs.
At the Boys and Girls Club, a group of children participate each week in a program called Smart Kids. Carolyn Masinton, the club's outreach director, said the after-school program has worked well and focuses on resistance training, teaching youngsters to avoid peer pressure, gangs, drugs and negative media influences.
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