Federal Funding Reductions Set to Impact CAPS, the Community Assistance Program Supporting Senior Employment

CHICAGO (WLS) — Federal funding cuts are coming to programs that help keep seniors employed.

Some organizations say they found just this week that the cuts will mean sending their senior clients home.

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The Community Assistance Program, widely recognized as CAPS, announced they have received notification indicating that come Monday, they must deny assistance to 141 seniors who rely on them for employment opportunities. In the absence of federal funding, they fear some seniors might face homelessness.

Seniors Friday said they have worked all their lives, and they’ll have to keep working to stay afloat.

“It’s like a little piece of heaven to make ends meet,” CAPs client Sandra L. Robinson said.

At 67, Robinson reflects on her long work history, having started at 16, now witnessing the closure of her beloved Community Assistance Program. This senior community service initiative offers jobs and training to over 100 seniors with annual incomes below $18,000.

“We were told that if anybody worked after the first of July, they would not pay for it,” Community Assistance Program CEO Sheryl Holman said.

Holman revealed that the recent federal budget excludes funding for the program. Consequently, the Illinois Department of Aging is unable to approve seniors to continue their employment.

“I’m chasing dollars now,” Holman said. “This program is vital to them. They have nothing else. I mean, who can live off $1,000 a month?”

Holman says CAPS receives over $2 million in government funding. She says she has clients who will have no way to pay rent or for life-saving medication, like insulin.

“It’s going to be tight. I have my rent. I have my meals and the medication. And I depend on the job that covered that part of it,” CAPS client Tammy Spivey said.

The seniors are already sending letters out to their representatives and even working on their job resumes.

“I don’t want to stay at home and sit, and I’m not going to stay at home and sit,” CAPS Client Juanita Wright said.

Some, like Wright, are employed through CAPS, at the Atlas Senior Center.

Just a few weeks ago, they were celebrating Senior Day.

Now, they’re trying to keep hope alive.

“Seniors have paid their price. They’ve worked their timeline. And here they are again,” Holman said.

CAPS said their senior program is so valuable that their current waiting list is 120 people.

The Illinois Department on Aging did not immediately respond to a request for comment.