Beatriz Alvarado

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Jim Wells County residents who attribute their livelihood and economic mobility to a network of local agencies supported by federal dollars shared their stories in an effort to humanize major budget cuts being proposed by the Trump administration.

Gabriel Perez, 29, was laid off in October 2015 after working the oil fields about five years. The job was the only source of income for Perez and his two sisters, who he had to provide for after his stepmother died in a car wreck and his stepfather committed suicide shortly after her death.

Perez began pursuing a career as a licensed vocational nurse through the Community Action Corporation of South Texas. They helped him with tuition, books, scrubs, “and even food when I didn’t have money to support me and my sisters,” Perez said.

The Community Action Agency is funded through Community Services Block Grants, which President Donald Trump is proposing to eliminate.

“It has to be there,” Perez said of the agency. “It needs to continue being there for people who need someone to advocate for them. I’m ready to give back (to my community) and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of the agency.”

Similar stories by elderly residents and youth also were shared during a Tuesday news conference led by U.S. Congressman Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville. The event was at the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office in Alice. Local leaders, including Jim Wells County Judge Pedro “Pete” Treviño Jr. and Ann Awalt, executive director of the Community Action Corp. of South Texas, discussed the impact of the proposed budget.

Vela said although there is strong bipartisan opposition toward the proposed cuts, communities and lawmakers will “fight.”

“If we’re able to soften the blow and cut these budget cuts into half, that’s still not good enough,” Vela said. “Our real challenge is to make sure we go back to current spending levels because of these kinds of cuts, even if it’s a proportionate ratio, it's going to have a dramatic effect.”

Angelita Ibanez, 76, said she survived a long battle with breast cancer because of the Community Action Health Center in Alice. Marleigh Martinez, 40, said the same of the services provided at the center during her struggle with stage four cancer that spread to her lungs, liver, spleen and pelvis.

The health center is one of five health centers in Jim Wells County. It is part of the Community Action Corp. of South Texas Health Centers network and it operates year-round. It primarily serves the rural population in Alice and surrounding cities.

“Let’s not make a mistake about these budget cuts. The programs they are talking about cutting are programs that prioritize services for children, the elderly and folks with disabilities,” Awalt said. “So let’s not make a mistake about what we’re really talking about when we’re talking about these cuts.”

Earlier this year, Trump proposed major cuts to health care, food assistance and other safety-net programs for the poor.

A $610 billion cut to Medicaid, eliminations of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Community Services Block Grants were among those heavily discussed during the Tuesday news conference. The Home Energy Assistance Program helps elderly and low-income people pay their heating and power bills. The Community Services Block Grants is an anti-poverty grant program that provides core funding to local agencies to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and to empower low-income families to become self-sufficient.

More: The 62 agencies and programs Trump wants to eliminate

Without the federal funding, Treviño said the county will do all it can to help residents, but the county isn't in a position to supplement or fund the programs on the chopping block. County residents will be left to fend for themselves.

“These people are all using programs that are last resort,” Treviño said. “If we lose these programs where do they turn? Jim Wells has been affected by with the oil and gas economy downturn. Our budgets have been cut tremendously. From last year to this year, with retirements, attrition and layoffs, we’ve lost more than 30 people. It’s been very, very difficult for us. Now, if these cuts come through, it’s going to be very difficult to find the money. Where are we going to find the money to help these people? And help our own departments do the work that needs to be done.”