A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration plan to slash more than $11 billion in public health grants across the U.S. But with its budget in jeopardy, one Phoenix nonprofit is turning to outside fundraising to keep a program running for mothers in recovery.
Terros Health runs a variety of programs for substance use treatment. One of the organization’s initiatives provides a few months of transitional housing to about six single mothers in recovery and their children. The program launched about two years ago with funding from one of the grants now at risk of being revoked.
Terros Health CEO Karen Hoffman Tepper said it’s a small program, but shutting it down would be devastating for participants.
“If there were not resources, then they would lose their homes, there would not be a place for them and their children to live, they would lose access to the support services helping them with employment, with parenting skills, and with retaining sobriety," Tepper said.
The federal grants in question were originally related to COVID-19, and the Trump administration said they are no longer needed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement when cuts were announced in late March.
In total, Arizona risks losing about $190 million from the canceled grants. The Arizona Department of Health Services reports the cuts would impact 269 contracts statewide with counties, tribes, universities and organizations. The department said the funds were already committed and planned for spending in approved, multiyear projects.
Terros Health stands to lose about $75,000. That’s not much compared to federal budgets, but the impact would be huge, said Paul Aguirre — he’s a community member who launched a GoFundMe campaign to keep the program participants housed.
“I don’t think the people that are making these cuts are paying attention to the personal side of these stories. It’s not just a budget when it comes to some of these programs, it’s people’s lives that are at stake,” Aguirre said.
Tepper said, through the GoFundMe and other fundraising, Terros Health has raised enough to keep the families housed at least through this month. The organization still hopes to raise about $60,000 to keep the program running through its planned end date in September.
