Oct 15, 2008 7:24 pm US/Eastern
Budget Cuts Could Impact Vulnerable State Programs
Jim Smith, WBZ Reporter
DORCHESTER (WBZ) ―
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Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester
WBZ
Some of the state's most vulnerable programs rely on state funding, such as the Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester, where there are some real concerns over massive budget cuts announced on Wednesday by
Gov. Deval Patrick.
Nicole DeFrancesco is 9-months pregnant. She's at the
Codman Square Health Center for a checkup.
In addition to being pregnant, Nicole is also worried -- worried that the
budget cuts will eliminate the programs she badly needs. "It's bad for the people who need it," she says. "Because a lot of the people in this community (are) low income. You know, a lot of people are not working and they get free care, and if that gets cut, they're going to be nowhere."
Read:
Patrick's Fiscal Action Plan WBZ's Jim Smith watched Gov. Deval Patrick's announcement with the CEO of the Codman Square Health Center, Bill Walczak.
There are no specifics yet as to where the axe will fall, but Walczak is deeply concerned. "These are the kinds of programs that are going to be eliminated when you cut a billion dollars out of the state budget. I'm very worried about all of the programs -- not just the health care programs, but other programs. There're clients that walk in the door here that need help. And the help isn't going to be as easy to get."
Walczak said he is going to the State House to meet with other human service advocates to try and get a handle on just what, if any, of the programs will be cut.
The Codman Square Health Center does not just rely on state money. They receive a mosaic of aid, but Walczak said one of the center's most generous donors will have to cut money given to the health facility from $100,000 a year to $25,000 this year.
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