Federal cuts are percolating down to the local level.
Santa Clara County has already felt the pinch, going so far as to ask voters to increase the sales tax. But it isn’t just medical services that are languishing. Locally, the Bill Wilson Center, 3490 The Alameda, provides housing, mental health care, support services and advocacy.
While the losses to the Bill Wilson Center are not substantive, one of the organization’s leaders said federal cuts are having downstream effects.
Pilar Furlong, chief communications resources officer, said because federal money is harder to come by at the county level, the county has to fill that gap from its general fund, leaving less money for other programs.
Furlong said a $25,000 federal grant for street outreach for runaway and homeless has dried up. However, the loss of the grant is relatively small compared to the organization’s roughly $40 million operating budget. Furlong said she is “always confident” she can find $25,000.
The scarier part, she said, is the uncertainty.
“We are seeing some language in our federal contracts change, some language in requests for proposals change, and that is worrisome,” she said.
Only about 22% of the Bill Wilson Center’s funding comes from the federal government, according to its 2024 annual report.
However, Furlong said some of the trends with federal cuts concern her.
Funding for traditionally underserved populations, such as those identifying as LGBT or ethnic minorities, is on the chopping block, she said. Meanwhile, the focus seems to have shifted toward support for married and two-parent households.
“This country worked so hard for equality and equity, and it is going away. If you don’t fit the white middle-class demographic, you are out,” Furlong said. “That scares the crap out of me.”
The Bill Wilson Center never offers a program just because funding is available, Furlong said; it has to align with its mission.
In 2024, the Bill Wilson Center answered more than 106,000 crisis calls and offered mental health services to over 750 people, according to its annual report.
Some programs, such as its Food for Kids program, are safer, Furlong said, because they are “as basic as you get.” But other programs, such as domestic violence services, could come under fire, she added.
“Things are precarious,” Furlong said. “The safety net for Santa Clara County, I feel like it is being ripped, and we keep trying to patch it, but at some point, there are going to be holes.”
To donate to the Bill Wilson Center or to learn more about the services it provides, visit billwilsoncenter.org
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
