Funding freeze comes as nonprofit prepares Morgantown project
Jan. 28—MORGANTOWN — For Libera WV, $1.2 million is life-changing money.
It's a huge shot in the arm to the agency.
More importantly, it has the potential to literally change the lives of the at-risk young women the nonprofit serves.
Women coming into adulthood out of the foster care system, the juvenile justice system and other scenarios that, statistically, increase the likelihood of poverty, homelessness and substance abuse.
So, it was cause for celebration late last year when the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh's Board of Directors announced Libera would receive a $1.2 million forgivable loan through the bank's Affordable Housing Program to finance a project in Morgantown.
On Jan. 15, the agency purchased the former school building-turned Chestnut Ridge Commons Bed & Breakfast at 1000 Stewartstown Road from the Morgantown Lodge of Perfection Scottish Rite Masons with the goal of turning the building into a transitional housing and services center for its clients.
March-Westin came aboard and Libera announced it was working with its contractor to have the necessary renovations complete by the end of the year.
But as of Tuesday morning, all those plans seem far less certain.
The White House ordered a pause on an untold number of federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs pending a review by the Trump administration.
Included in that pause are the federal grant programs that are the lifeline for nonprofits, like Libera WV.
It's unclear how long the freeze will last.
"It's not our full budget, but it's a significant portion, " Libera Founder and Executive Director Karen Haring said of federal grant dollars.
"It was sort of a vague announcement, but our understanding is that even the grants we have right now are paused, " Haring said. "They're paused while they're being reviewed, but you have to ask yourself how long it's going to take to review them all."
Haring said she doesn't believe the affordable housing funds from the FHLBP will be impacted by this pause, but a prolonged disruption in the nonprofit's ability to seek reimbursement for staffing and other costs will impact not only that project, but the nonprofit's core mission.
After all, what good is a new transitional housing facility if you have no employees ?
"What we're really hoping is that we can save the jobs of those who would be working at that building, and those who would be serving the foster youth, youth coming out of recovery and those who are justice impacted. We're hoping to be able to keep employing those people we employ, " she said.
Haring said she counts Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice,-in his former role as governor — as supporters and says she knows they will want to keep jobs in West Virginia and assistance in place for the state's most at-risk population, foster youth.
"We're concerned for those we serve. We're concerned we'll be able to continue the work. We're concerned we'll be able to keep jobs. And of course I'm concerned, not only for Libera, but all the other nonprofits we work with, " Haring said. "As local, nonprofit leaders, we're trying to make West Virginia great and we're trying to build brighter futures for youth and young women in West Virginia."
She continued.
"I'm a person that tries to live in the moment ... I think it's too early to say anything about the future. At this point, the plan is to move forward, but if our staffing is affected, I don't know what the future holds."
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CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
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Run for Their Lives, which organized the walk, said, "This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release." The group met at 1 p.m. at Pearl Street and 8th Street to walk the length of the Pearl Street Mall and back with a stop at the courthouse for a video. Av Kornfeld and Ed Victor CBS Ed Victor, who was participating in the walk, said they've been holding these silent marches every week since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack to raise awareness for the hostages still in Gaza. They stop at the courthouse to sing songs, tell stories and read the names of the hostages each week. He said around 30 people were participating in Sunday's walk. Victor said that the marchers occasionally encounter hecklers, but they try not to respond and continue peacefully down Pearl Street. People also often nod, clap or thank them as they walk by, he added. He said that he never expected that someone would attack them. 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University of Colorado system President Todd Saliman said in a statement Sunday, "My deepest sympathies go out tonight to those keeping weekly vigil who were viciously attacked in Boulder today. I hope that they and their loved ones feel the support of our community as they struggle to comprehend what has happened. I know the shock and horror of today's violent act will have long echoes for each of the victims, their loved ones and members of the community. We must vocally and forcefully condemn this hateful act of violence targeting the Jewish community and prosecute those responsible." A joint statement from Boulder's Jewish community said: We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza. We don't have all the details of what is unfolding, and we promise to keep our community informed. Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We are in touch with law enforcement about our Boulder Jewish community, and safety is our highest priority. We are working closely with SCN, Boulder PD, and the FBI. We are grateful for the first responders who are caring for our injured. We will continue to work together to share information and provide support for our community. When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another. Strength to you all. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser denounced the attack and offered to help the victims in a release Sunday afternoon: My thoughts are with those injured and impacted by today's attack against a group that meets weekly on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of the hostages in Gaza. From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted. 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Yahoo
a day ago
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Yahoo
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FHLB Dallas and The First National Bank of McGregor Award $12K Grant to Texas Retiree
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