Centro LatinoAmericano loses county funding
LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- In the last 10 years, the Latino population in Lane County has jumped 76 percent, according to the latest Census data.
Centro LatinoAmericano provides Spanish speakers with several services including legal, health, and housing assistance.
Organization members said it’s the only organization in Lane County that is specifically focused on serving Spanish speaking immigrants, but the agency will soon take a huge financial hit.
Lane County said it cannot afford to fund the program. Local Latinos said they can’t afford to lose it.
Since 1999, Centro LatinoAmericano has relied on the county for nearly a quarter of their $400,000 budget.
But according to the organization and county records, that funding will end.
“We’re not able to fund all those services we’ve funded in the past,” said Steve Manela of the county’s Health and Human Services commission. “I go home with a broken heart and wish we could do something about it, but we don’t have the money.”
Manela said the commission was able to fund 63 local programs last year but only 39 this year.
He said that’s because the county has received less money from the federal and local governments.
Each year the commission receives dozens of applications for funding. This year those requests totaled $6.5 million, but only about $3.6 million was available for allocation.
Marcola said other services such as Egan warming centers, transitional homes, and rental assistance won’t receive the funding they have in the past.
The county’s Health and Human Services commission denied Centro’s request for $145,000.
“This is about civil rights,” said Marcela Medoza of Centro LatinoAmericano. “This places provides services that no other organization in the county does.”
Dozens of Spanish speaking immigrants who agree with Mendoza packed an upstairs conference room in their west Eugene office Monday afternoon. Many said they’ve been able to find housing and counseling through the organization.
According to Centro’s damage assessment report, between January 1 and December 31, 2010, Centro had 12,841 contacts with individuals seeking information, referrals, advocacy, substance abuse services and educational services.
The report indicated that on an average month, Centro will receive over 600 phone calls and 450 walk-ins.
Marcela Mendoza said the denial of funding will force them to adapt services and that they will become increasingly dependent on grants to serve the Spanish speaking population.
Still, organizers said they’re optimistic Centro will weather their financial storm.
“We’ll find a way,” said Mendoza. “We're very resilient.”
