Document text
P/SUNNY Temp: 63 °F Wind: WNW at 9 mph Wednesday, June 18, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 12, 2003 Medford family center may close By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune The West Medford Family Center, one of Jackson County’s three integrated social service sites, could close in July to help offset looming state budget cuts. Local service leaders are meeting today to consider whether to shutter the center operated for three years at 913 W. Main St. Advocates say the move would be a blow to hundreds of neighborhood residents, including many Hispanics, who show up for cooperative services ranging from food stamps and employment counseling to drug treatment. "It took so long to build the trust of the community," said Maurico Gutierrez, a case worker for the state Department of Human Services. "It feels personal to them." Advertisement About 50 Anglo and Hispanic clients seek center services most days, staff members said. But simply keeping the doors open costs $61,000 a year, officials said. That’s money cash-strapped state, county and nonprofit agencies could save if they relinquished the lease. "I think the bottom line is all of the budget cuts that the state and the county and the nonprofits are suffering," said Bob Scheelen, director of the center. "People are having to look at what their options are." In March, local officials virtually had decided to close one of the county’s three integrated social service sites in White City, Ashland and west Medford, said Hank Collins, director of county Health and Human Services. "We were struggling to keep all three places open," he said. "The group seemed to be leaning toward sacrificing west Medford in order to keep Ashland." Offering geographic diversity was a priority, Collins said. Many of the services offered at the west Medford site can be accessed nearby, even if they’re not all in one place, he added. In April, however, Scheelen made an impassioned plea to keep the center open, prompting new discussions. In addition, he suggested adding new tenants to the center to help pay the lease. Ida Saito, regional director for DHS, said keeping the center open is contingent on those negotiations. "We’ve got some possibilities," she said, declining to specify which organizations are being considered. No one wants to close the center, which is at the heart of Jackson County’s nationally praised social service integration system, added Saito. "Even though we had the conversation about closing the building, it doesn’t mean we aren’t committed to integration," she said. County Commissioner Sue Kupillas, who was behind efforts in the early 1990s to pioneer cooperative services, said it’s dismaying — but necessary — to consider cutting one of the region’s sites. The state revenue forecast expected this month could call for even deeper budget cuts, she noted. And it’s still unclear how the Legislature will resolve Oregon’s funding crisis. "What if the May forecast comes in even worse?" she said. "Everything’s on the table right now." Collins and Saito said they expect to find a way today to keep the west Medford center open. "We’ll just look somewhere else to cut," Collins said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times