DHS has no immediate successor to manage programs for poor
GULFPORT -- Clients of the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency are wondering how they are supposed to keep the lights and heat on now that the state has yanked the agency's funding, but Department of Human Services says it has no new service provider yet.
As of Dec. 31, the Mississippi Department of Human Services pulled funding from GCCAA for programs that assist South Mississippi's needy with utility bills, home weatherization, rent and services that help residents become self-sufficient.
DHS sent out a news release Monday afternoon, which it initially promised Dec. 29, that says it is working with utility providers to "minimize any disruption of services." It hopes to replace GCCAA with a new agency by Feb. 1, the news release says. Anyone with questions, the news release says, can contact DHS at 1-800-421-0762.
Gulfport resident Patricia Silva-Mujica, who is disabled, said the agency had pledged to pay her rent and power bill for December, which would have allowed her to catch up on medical bills. Instead, she had to borrow money to pay rent and utilities.
"That was supposed to get me going back on my feet where I could live on my own income," Silva-Mujica said. "Now, that's all up in the air."
"I'm going to get through it. It was nice to have the help. I just don't know if it's going to get done."
The GCCAA offices have closed to the public. said Dean Holleman, a Gulfport attorney advising GCCAA.
Holleman said GCCAA also has been unable to get answers from DHS about a transition, but a conference call with the state has been set up for Monday afternoon.
According to GCCAA's latest nonprofit tax form available, for the year 2013, the agency received about $3 million in federal grants through DHS. Most of the funding helped with utility bills, with more than 4,015 residents assisted, the form said. The programs assist residents of Hancock, Harrison, Stone, George and Greene counties.
The federal Administration for Children & Families recently removed Head Start in Harrison County from GCCAA and put it under interim management. GCCAA had about $9 million in funding for the county's Head Start program, which serves 1,368 children at seven centers.
Holleman said "ineffective leadership" on the GCCAA staff contributed to the agency's problems. But four relatively new board members who have resigned in recent months said the problem lies with the Board of Directors, its failure to follow bylaws and the tendency of several members to micro-manage the staff.
With no federal funds to distribute, Holleman expects the 46-year-old agency will cease operations once assets are inventoried and distributed, with a new or different agency taking on programs for the poor.
This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 1:29 PM with the headline "DHS has no immediate successor to manage programs for poor ."