At A4TD, we’ve seen firsthand the impact that federal funding delays can have on older job seekers—and the communities they serve.
Every year, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) supports hundreds of low-income job seekers across our region aged 55 and older, helping them reenter the workforce through paid, part-time internships at nonprofits and public agencies. But when annual program funding is delayed—as it has been this year—organizations like ours are forced to put participant services on hold.
To be clear: A4TD is open. SCSEP has not ended. Our staff remain on the job, continuing to plan, communicate, and prepare for the return of services. But we cannot assign, train, or pay our participants without the federal funds that support SCSEP. The result is a difficult and deeply frustrating standstill for the very people this program is designed to help.
“As a senior, you feel that you have fulfilled your purpose in life and are not looked at as a viable part of society,” one participant reflected. “This program has helped me grow in so many ways. The things I have learned I will take with me to use to help others.”
For many older workers, SCSEP is more than a path back to employment. It’s structure. Purpose. A renewed sense of contribution and dignity. Whether supporting a food pantry, library, senior center, or another local nonprofit, SCSEP participants give their time and energy to strengthen their communities—while gaining the skills and confidence to transition into permanent jobs.
But when funding is delayed, that progress is halted. Participants are left waiting. For many, the break brings financial uncertainty. For others, it brings social isolation and a loss of routine. And for all, it sends a disheartening message: your time and efforts are valuable—but only when the paperwork clears.
The impact doesn’t stop with participants. The community organizations that rely on SCSEP placements must manage without the extra hands and hearts that help them meet local needs. And A4TD continues our work but is unable to deliver SCSEP services.
This is not a problem unique to A4TD. It is part of a broader delay that affects SCSEP across the country. But we believe it’s important to talk about it clearly and publicly—because when the system stalls, people do not.
SCSEP works. And when funded on time, it changes lives, boosts local economies, and honors the contributions of mature workers.
We remain committed to our participants and partners. We look forward to restarting services as soon as funding is released. And in the meantime, we encourage everyone to learn more about SCSEP and why programs like this are worth protecting—not just in theory, but in practice, and on time.