FEDERAL CUTS THREATEN LOCAL SERVICES.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

NEWHALL - With his salt-and-pepper hair and worn, calm eyes, Dennis Pinkett said he has been mistaken for a certain Oscar-winning actor, though he hasn't had as much luck in health or in life.

``If I'm fortunate, I'm hoping there's such a job as a celebrity look-alike for Morgan Freeman,'' Pinkett, 60, said. ``The Lord's been good to me. Maybe he'll let that happen.''

It's brief levity from a man who was close to losing his senior apartment in Canyon Country nearly eight months ago: Pinkett was in poor health and lost his job as a custodian, burned through his savings and only stayed out of homelessness when he sought help at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center.

Caseworker Ade Sogbien connected him with medical help, rent assistance and a job with the center's lunch program.

``She's been a real lifesaver,'' Pinkett said of Sogbien. ``I love working. I can accomplish more working than if somebody hands me something.''

Yet the federal funds behind the counseling service that got Pinkett back on his feet are being targeted for more cuts. An estimated 25 percent reduction proposed by the Bush administration in the Community Development Block Grant for 2007-08 has left local charities facing tough choices.

Brad Berens, executive director of the Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging, which runs the senior center, said they may have to diminish assessment services for dozens of people like Pinkett to offset the proposed cuts.

Though the federal grants are restricted to infrastructure and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income areas, it also finances social services - including $48,000 this year for the senior center's assessment program. ``They may come in with one problem, but they may get help with five other problems,'' Berens said. ``Seniors need assessment so those problems are fixed before they hit critical. That's the single most cost-efficient program we do for the city for the amount of people we serve.''

The proposed $1.1 billion reduction in federal funding - which adds up to a 42 percent cut to CDBG in three years - has been touted by the White House as a measure against a swelling budget deficit. But critics say they hurt those most vulnerable - the elderly, the poor and the uninsured. ``The current administration is so seriously short-sighted in the effort to balance the budget, they're cutting programs that are the most vital,'' Berens said. ``They don't have a clue.''

The Committee on Aging already had given up about $18,000 of its Los Angeles County CDBG allocation because the administrative costs were too high and diverted it to the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Berens said. The funds bolstered the group's grant to $30,000 this fiscal year to provide health care to the uninsured, including low-income seniors.

``We got put in a position of scrambling and competing with our fellow not-for-profits for funds, and it's inappropriate,'' said Cheryl Laymon, executive director of the three-clinic group serving some 10,000 in Val Verde, Canyon Country and Newhall. ``It's like saying `You can have food or you can have health care - you can't have both.'''

Pinkett, who once lived out of his car soon after arriving in Santa Clarita in 2004 from North Carolina, is undergoing treatment for high blood pressure and other health problems at Samuel Dixon. He got a referral through the senior center.

``If we lose even one of these links, it makes the rest of the services not as effective,'' Berens said.

Though $30,000 is just 3 percent of the health center's annual budget of just under $1 million, it's money for the patients, Laymon said.

Clients pay up to 25 percent of their health care costs, depending on income.

``The bigger problem is we don't have ways to come up with additional funding to offset when the federal government decides to do these things,'' Laymon said.

In the Antelope Valley, the Healthy Homes program that offers expecting couples parenting and nursing classes at home is at risk.

Based at Antelope Valley Hospital, a staff of nine nurses fans out to help reduce the risk of child maltreatment, family violence and bad behavior, such as drug and alcohol use before the baby arrives.

Program director Lea Butterfield said a cut to Happy Homes' $26,000 grant from CDBG could cut in half the number of families in the program, which now stands at 35.

``It might not seem like a lot,'' she said. ``Nonetheless, for those that are receiving services, it makes a big impact in their lives.''

Berens remains optimistic the proposed cuts could be derailed.

``I still believe there is a chance for advocacy,'' he said. ``Every social service agency in this town should get (Rep. Howard P.) Buck McKeon in front of them.''

Meanwhile, 2nd District Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke proposed a resolution passed 4-0 last week by Board of Supervisors that supports retention of the grant program in its current form, with at least $4.3 billion in funds. The board is scheduled to lobby leaders in Washington this week.

Los Angeles County, which administers CDBG funds for unincorporated areas and 49 cities, expects about $30.8 million from the grant in the 2006-07 fiscal year and about $23.1 million for 2007-08. The city of Santa Clarita expects $1.1 million in the upcoming fiscal year and roughly $800,000 in 2007-08.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Alfred Matzen, 66 of Saugus looks away as medical assistant Claudia Vasquez of Castaic prepares to draw blood at the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center in Canyon Country.

(2) Clemen Hellerud, 53, of Valencia sits back as physician assistant Michael Gales of Saugus examines her at the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center in Canyon Country recently.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News