Nonprofits Gather to Address Concerns Over Federal Funding Cuts

DULUTH, Minn. – 23 local nonprofits gathered for a press conference to address the potential impacts of federal budget cuts.

Chum, Second Harvest Northland, Safe Haven, One Roof Community Housing, and 19 other local nonprofits outside Representative Pete Stauber’s office in Hermantown to address the concerns of potential federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other social safety net programs supported by Stauber. This press event was followed by a joint letter from the leaders of these local organizations, calling on Stauber to take action.

The Executive Director, Deyona Kirk, of Divine Konnections, a local nonprofit that helps people overcome numerous obstacles, attended the event to share some of the organization’s concerns.

“The parts that really concern me is the people that are the lowest incomes in our community, when it comes to people that are homeless or a paycheck away from being homeless, when it comes to families, when it comes to the seniors in our community, the disabled people in our community, and really concerned how the cuts to snap and the cuts to Medicaid is going to affect them,” said Kirk.

Representative Stauber responded to leaders of the local nonprofits, saying the changes aim to protect the benefits of vulnerable Americans by removing undocumented immigrants from Medicaid and requiring able-bodied adults without young children to work or volunteer 20 hours a week.

“The truth is that we are protecting Medicaid and SNAP for the most vulnerable in our communities: the disabled, pregnant women, low-income families, seniors, and children,” said Stauber.