For 20 years the funding has been a source of help to low-income individuals and families. Alliance agencies have been active in defending the funding which they use to provide vital community services. That cut was to be reversed in 2003 but since then the administration, appropriators and congressional officials in search of funds for transportation and other programs have turned to the block grant as a source of revenue. SSBG is considered the glue that holds state and local social service systems together. It rarely funds a service in its entirety, but is used by states, local governments and non-profit organizations to supplement other federal programs, and leverage additional public and private funding and resources.
States have flexibility to use SSBG to address specific gaps in services and needs.
The Social Services Block Grant FY1997 Expenditure Report , and report highlights are available online. Please note that the 1997 figures do not measure some of the most recent and severe cuts to SSBG that have decimated it in fiscal years 1998 and 1999.