In the five states where A4TD operates, the absence of FY25 SCSEP funding isn’t just a budget issue—it’s a disruption to real lives, communities, and our public mission of four decades. The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a long-standing federal job training program that helps low-income adults aged 55 and older re-enter or remain in the workforce through paid, part-time community service assignments. SCSEP has long been a vital bridge for older Americans striving to regain stability and purpose through work. Yet today, that bridge stands fractured. A4TD CEO Alex Fizz outlines the scope and seriousness of the current situation:
As the FY 25 SCSEP funds remain tied up in administrative review, A4TD is facing an unprecedented operational crisis. With no clear timeline for release, we plan to furlough 84% of our non-executive staff. More than 450 lower-income older Americans have been placed on leave of absence, preventing them from participating in on-the-job or specialized training, contributing to community service placements, accessing supportive services, or receiving crucial income.
These consequences are not theoretical. They are measurable, lived, and immediate. In the absence of funding, both the infrastructure and the individuals who rely on SCSEP are left in limbo—without access to training, community placement, or the modest income that helps cover essential expenses.
SCSEP’s value extends far beyond paycheck support. Participants gain marketable skills, confidence in a changing workforce, and a renewed sense of purpose through placements at local nonprofits and public agencies. This combined focus on personal growth and community impact uplifts individuals, strengthens volunteer capacity, boosts local economies, and fosters intergenerational connections in communities nationwide.
This dual mission—supporting older job seekers while strengthening local organizations—has been SCSEP’s quiet but powerful success for decades. The longer this program remains paused, the more these reciprocal benefits are diminished. And while participants wait, so too does the workforce behind the program.
For our A4TD team, the funding delay has created deep uncertainty. Staff members with specialized expertise in older-worker employment services face an anxious wait and risk losing morale and retention. Without swift action, we may lose critical talent whose relationships and insights are essential to helping participants secure unsubsidized jobs and rebuild financial stability.
Behind every effective SCSEP assignment is a professional whose knowledge, rapport, and local insight help make that opportunity possible. When the professionals are sidelined, that continuity is broken—and it cannot easily be restored.
The timely release of FY25 SCSEP funds is essential to restoring services and minimizing harm to participants and staff. Restoring these resources immediately will allow us to bring furloughed employees back to work and reengage over 550 participants. It will also preserve the momentum we have built in advancing workforce inclusion for older Americans. Every week of delay erodes the skills, confidence, and economic well-being of those we serve.
Until funding resumes, hundreds of older adults are stalled—ready to serve, learn, and contribute. The impact of delay reaches beyond bureaucracy. It strikes at SCSEP’s core mission.
This communication is intended solely to inform stakeholders and the public about the operational impacts of delayed funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). It is not intended to influence legislation, advocate for or against specific policies, or promote any political party or candidate. As a nonprofit organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, A4TD remains committed to nonpartisan, mission-driven work in service of low-income older adults. Any views expressed herein relate exclusively to the programmatic and community-level consequences of current funding delays.