York nonprofit to close for 3 weeks because of state budget crisis

(York) — A nonprofit that serves some of the most vulnerable in the midstate will temporarily close its doors because of the commonwealth’s budget crisis.

Mothers and their infants who get food through the Community Progress Council of York County will have to look elsewhere.

So will people who are nearly homeless, but get help paying rent.

And 250 employees of the nonprofit won’t be paid for three weeks, between now and the end of the year.

This is all because Governor Tom Wolf and Republican legislative leaders show little urgency in reaching a budget deal that will get state money flowing to the needy.

Speaking on WITF’s Smart Talk, Robin Rohrbaugh, president of the nonprofit says they’ve done all they can.

“We’re spending, I can tell you, myself, probably 30 hours every work week since July doing nothing but trying to figure out how to keep our doors open, how to not impact clients and not impact our employees. And frankly, we can’t do it anymore,” says Rohrbaugh.

The nonprofit has been relying on a $2 million line of credit, and started planning months before the budget deadline, in the hopes the dispute would be resolved.

Rohrbaugh says her employees care more about helping the commonwealth than legislators.

“Worst case scenario, we’re going to see more people sleeping on the streets. Unfortunately, the impact of our closure will be felt by other social service agencies, so shelters may be at capacity.”

The state is nearing 130 days without a budget.