Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California released the following statement from Interim Executive Director Eileen Cubanski today following the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Budget Revision: 

“While we appreciate the difficult budget situation our state finds itself in, California’s most vulnerable residents would continue to suffer the greatest under the governor’s proposed May Revision. Even more proposed cuts to CalWORKs, child welfare services, Adult Protective Services, In-Home Supportive Services, and housing supports will cause significant hardship to seniors and children suffering from abuse and neglect, families in deep poverty, and people with disabilities who are already struggling. County human services agencies’ ability to respond to the needs of our communities will be severely limited and communities of color would be disproportionately affected.

“People across the state are increasingly turning to social service programs delivered by county human services programs as the soaring cost of living jeopardizes families’ stability. Counties are already working at an all-out pace to serve as many people as possible, despite dealing with a workforce crisis. 

“While we appreciate this is a tough budget cycle, forcing the most vulnerable among us to bear the brunt of spending cuts doesn’t align with California’s values or the promise to address longstanding inequities. Poverty has lifelong impacts on health and well-being; those affected by cuts today will feel those ramifications for years to come, long after California’s budget has recovered.”