BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As the Howard County Council begins parsing through the operating budget proposal, nonprofits are urging members not to dip into their pots.

“County funding is absolutely critical to our organization,” Jackie Eng, head of Congregations Concerned for the Homeless, said at a recent budget public hearing.

From organizations tackling homelessness to centers supporting domestic violence victims, Howard’s nonprofits rallied for full funding through county grants and the budgets for the Citizens Services and Housing departments.

County Executive Ken Ulman’s proposal includes $4.7 million in grants to nonprofits through the Community Service Partnership Program. This amount is less than this year’s $5.3 million, but Ulman touted in his proposal an overall 9.4 percent increase for community services, including transportation, human services and public health.

The council is set to approve the proposed $1.4 billion operating budget May 22.

For Congregations Concerned for the Homeless, which provides transitional and permanent housing, the grants provide about half of the organization’s funding, Eng said.

The budget request includes more than $1.2 million for the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, which represents a 10 percent increase, Executive Director Andrea Ingram told council members.

The increase is needed for additional positions to staff the expanded location. Grassroots’ new, expanded facility in Columbia will allow it to provide more than 50 beds and expanded crisis intervention services.

A few nonprofits lauded Ulman’s inclusion of more police officers, particularly for the year-old domestic violence unit.

“They truly need additional support to help their unit and our clients,” said Jodi Finkelstein, executive director of the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County.

Carol Filipczak, chairwoman of the county’s Public Transportation Board, asked the council to fund the $2.7 million request for 14 hybrid buses to replace the aging Howard Transit fleet.

But the budget only funds current routes and schedules, she said,

“At a time of rising gas prices, we should be expanding the route and increasing frequency,” Filipczak said.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:56 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Group seeks summer activities for low-income youth"

Examiner Reader said:
At least this time Mr. Corrigan wrote a variation on his theme of the past 10 weeks, instead of just the same story with different words.

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11:57 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ministry stresses local entrepreneurship"

Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.

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4:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Washington-area nonprofits coordinate different crisis-management strategies"

Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.

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8:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007 re: "Study: Nonprofit employment growing faster than private sector"

Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.

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11:40 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Marian House helps at-risk women cultivate independence"

Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.

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8:50 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007 re: "Martha�s Place promotes hope for women overcoming addictions"

Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!

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12:18 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 19, 2007 re: "Health Care for the Homeless to expand services"

Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!

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12:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "D.C. charity helps kids pump clean water in Africa"

Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.

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7:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Advisory board trims list of nonprofit grant applications"

Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?

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