19-02-2025
Local nonprofits still hope to keep federal grant funding
In late January, the White House Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo freezing payments on federal grants and loans, causing some area nonprofits to temporarily lose access to funds before the order was rescinded.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that even though the memo had been rescinded, the president's executive orders freezing foreign assistance and ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives remain in effect.
Tahlequah Area Habitat for Humanity has been awarded $173,000 in federal funds for owner-occupied home repairs, and so far, those funds have not been taken back, said Linda Cheatham, executive director of TAHFH.
'We get reimbursed for actual expenses quarterly and have a concern these funds might be withdrawn before we get reimbursed,' Cheatham said. 'We are hopeful we can continue to repair homes for low-income families.'
The next two homeowners have been approved for federal loans, and TAHFH has not been notified those will be rescinded, Cheatham said.
'We will start the first of those houses during the Women Build Event in March,' Cheatham said. 'We have other potential homeowners pending review for federal home loans. I was notified that all unobligated home loan funds were taken back, and we do not know if, or when, they will be restored.'
Executive Director Laura Kuester, of Help In Crisis, said they had not had any cuts or funds frozen yet.
'The only adverse effect is that we were working on an Office of Violence Against Women grant to support our Transitional Housing Project, 'Laura's Place,' and the available [Notice Of Funding Opportunity] has been pulled from the OVW website, along with other grants that were open for application,' Kuester said. 'I have been told by OVW that those grants are under review and will be available again with a new deadline.'
Natalie Shelton, director of the Quah Prevention and Recovery Center Inc., formerly known as Tahlequah Men's Shelter, has not been affected by the cut.
'In the upcoming weeks, you will likely see the name Quah Prevention and Recovery Center, or QPRC, listed in local resource guides, social media, and newsletters,' Shelton said. 'Rest assured, the emergency shelter remains, but there is more to what we can offer.'
Sam Bradshaw, of QPRC and Peaceful Warriors Way, said the funds for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration were halted with the original freeze.
'We only receive one grant from SAMHA,' Bradshaw said. 'Our ability to draw approved funds was frozen for a week when first initiated by the administration. But since then, we have not had any problems.'
The grant is about building community of recovery for those with alcohol, substance abuse and mental health, Bradshaw said.
'We do not expect any interruptions at this time,' Bradshaw said.
Terri Garrett-Riggs, of Working to Recover, Assist and Prevent Project, reported funding had been cut off with the original freeze. By press time, no response had been received from TDP's inquiry on whether the funding had been released.
Cherokee County Humane Society doesn't have federal funding and rely on local grants and donations.
City Administrator Taylor Tannehill said none of the funding through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has been withdrawn or affected by the cuts. Several road projects in the Tahlequah area are funded by ODOT grants, along with matching funds from the city.
TDP reached out to American Indian Resource Center to inquire about funding, but by press time, no response was received.
A report on Fox33, Jan. 10, stated the Cherokee Nation had lost a $10.7 million grant for charging stations. When asked to verify the information, CN Communications Director Julie Hubbard denied the loss.
'That is not correct,' Hubbard said. 'Per our secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice, we have not had any official word on this and expect an update in the coming weeks.'
Cherokee Nation and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians were asked for an update on funding cuts, but by press time, neither tribe had responded.
