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Show agency personnel and residents talk of concern Page 2 "The War on Poverty Has Not Been Won" County Commissioners Ralph McClure (left) and Kutulas (right) confer with Congressman Owens. Andy Gallegos, CAP director Congressman Wayne Owens called a public meeting on Thursday, February 15, in the City Commission chambers to hear opinions on the recent recommendations by President Nixon to eliminate or reduce funding of social programs. Several residents and representatives of social service agencies spoke on the effect such cuts would have on this community. Andy Gallegos, director of the Salt Lake Community Action Program, expressed the feelings of most in his presentation to Congressman Owens. "The Community Action Program, in spite of its lack of authority and lack of funds, has made significant changes in the community's poverty picture during the past seven years. The 1970 census reveals that in that year, only eight percent of the county's families lived in poverty compared with 20 percent in I960,'' he said. Low income people not only benefit from the services provided by social programs, but have participated in the planning of such and decision-makinorganizations such as CAP and g Model Cities. "The CAP agency's main tool for accomplishing its goals has been the involvement of residents in the planning and operation of programs that affect their lives. Prior to the CAP program, poor people were not Pete no voice in government's processes, in most cases, they were not even asked what they thought was decision-makin- g causing their problems, he added. It would appear that the resident organizing and training efforts of CAP and Model Cities are now starting to pay off. Many of the community's social service agencies and programs reveal that not only are low income residents included on governing boards, on advisory committees and Willard large percentage of the unemployed people in this Country and statistics show that senior citizens make up large the of low income percentage neighborhood based public have escaped from the poverty trap, according to Gallegos. But the work stopped by the a disproportionately door-to-doo- families (over 40,000 people) an families are in poverty, he said. Youth make up an extremely employees but their advise on program matters is actively being sought by agencies through such r means as surveys, questionaires. The strategy begun by CAP must be working - in seven years more than 12,000 is right, active resident. as meetings and participant Hicks, needs still existing in community. segment. "The hopes of the poor have been raised. They can't afford another defeat. Resident councils Ted Buzis, Union of the Poor. and other resident groups continue to need technical Bill Biggs, former CAP director, talks of assistance and support if they are to survive," Gallegos told the Congressman'The President has loss of funds has not been completed. About 9,000 County families remain in poverty and these appear to be the most difficult cases, the ones requring suggested that CAP programs look to local government for funds from revenue sharing. Those funds are to be used to get cities and counties out of their present financial plight and don't think it is a real possibility to use revenue sharing to fund the most assistance and rehabilitation. The war on poverty has not been won, according to Gallegos and others who spoke at the meeting, and the most difficult part apparently lies ahead. I CAP programs." "I want to go on record as forecasting Gallegos said that a further ever-increasin- g poverty levels in this Country problem is that the people !if. CAP and other Federally financed programs are not refunded. recommend that administering boards and poverty do not represent the general population. Poverty is now concentrated in program advisory committees. various minority groups. While only eight percent of the white families in the County live in poverty, about 29 of black continue the involved on program They were not involved in program planning or program evaluation. They had remaining in I every possible effort be made to anti-povert- y programs now being closed out by Presidential concluded. t ' v decree," he |