MATT DRISCOLL: HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS >>>

In the latest issue of the Weekly Volcano, which hit the streets today, we’re running a story in our Mudroom section about recent recommendations by the Tacoma Human Services Commission regarding the distribution of federal block grant money to local nonprofits. It’s a process that happens regularly, and this year 32 nonprofits applied for funding out of the federal block grant money. While, ultimately, it’s the Tacoma City Council’s decision who gets the cash and who doesn’t, they enlist the help of the Human Services Commission to help make the decision transparent.

To make these recommendations, the Human Services Commission relies on a scoring system, judging all the applications the city receives by the same standards and awarding each application a grade. It’s kind of like elementary school. Perfect applications receive a score of 100.  This year, based on the amount of money available and the number of applications received, a score of 81 or higher was a passing mark. Those applications that scored less than 81 were considered failing.

On the list of applications that failed to meet the threshold of 81, some well known and prominent nonprofits lead the way â€" all likely to miss out on block grant funding thanks to poor scores from the Human Services Commission. Centro Latino, the Salvation Army and the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association all failed by no more than two points. All of their applications were seeking funding for programs that help Tacoma’s homeless population.

While it’s important to note that the City of Tacoma spends $5 million per biennium on social and human services programs out of the general fund, and many of the nonprofits listed above will have other chances to secure funding from the city for their programs; it’s also important to note that homelessness is one of the biggest issues facing Tacoma, and, one way or another, it’s something that has to be dealt with. Programs that help the problem have to be funded somehow.

In the story in today’s Weekly Volcano, Councilman Rick Talbert offered his thoughts on the Human Services Commission’s recommendations. Today, it’s Mayor Bill Baarsma’s turn.

“The purpose of the scoring system is to level the playing field and provide, I believe, a fair and equitable framework for evaluating the competitive applications. The problem for the Human Services Commission is that there has been a 19 percent reduction of CDBG funding during the Bush Administration. Bush has been trying to kill the program since he was appointed President. The scoring system is not new. It focuses on a number of criteria with the most important being outcome based analysis,” says Baarsma.

“Desired outcomes must be identified and the specific programs aimed at achieving those outcomes must be carefully explained. The city staff provides a series of workshops to help agencies understand and complete the requirements in applying for funding. The scoring system has replaced the old system of horse trading and deal making among commission members. It is a vast improvement over the prior system.”

As to whether the failing grades received by Centro Latino, the Salvation Army and the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association will have an impact on Tacoma’s homeless population, Baarsma was quick to point out the $5 million per biennium Tacoma spends out of its own pocket for social and human services programs, and that many of the nonprofits that received failing grades have received funding from this source in the past.

“I can't predict what the council will do with these recommendations. But remember that the city expends $5 million per biennium on social and human services programs out of the general fund. The programs not funded by the CDBG dollars have received dollars from that source â€" in fact considerable dollars.”