Holocaust survivors to benefit from new $14.5M in state funding

California s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Venture helps to fund social events for local survivors like this Purim Celebration hosted by Jewish Family Function of San Diego including a latest gathering to celebrate Purim Photo courtesy of Jewish Family Function of San Diego Gov Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature have allocated million to sustain the state s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Venture which provides essential services to more than Holocaust survivors across California The funding set for distribution this fiscal year follows advocacy efforts led by Jewish Family Institution of San Diego six other Jewish Family Institution agencies the Jewish Residents Affairs Committee of California and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus Now in their late s and s Holocaust survivors face increasing physical emotional and financial challenges According to JFSSD s Supporting Our Survivors project the average age of participants is with more than half living below the poverty line more than twice the statewide rate for older adults The new HSAP funding will primarily promotion in-home care helping survivors remain in their homes and communities for as long as realizable In San Diego and Orange counties the number of Holocaust survivors receiving SOS services has grown by over the last three years As of June JFSSD was providing critical assistance to more than survivors in those two counties California originally allocated million in to fund HSAP over three years The activity is administered by the California Department of Social Services and operated by the state s seven Jewish Family Function agencies including JFSSD Without this new allocation funding was set to expire at the end of the month We thank the State of California for their continued partnership in supporting our work serving hundreds of Holocaust survivors in San Diego and Orange County mentioned JFSSD CEO Dana Toppel With this funding communities across the state are able to honor the resiliency of survivors by providing them services to live their remaining years with the dignity they deserve Through its SOS venture JFSSD provides trauma-informed culturally competent care that includes occurrence management food and nutrition advocacy transportation personal and home fitness care dental services housing assistance and translation services The organization s Center for Jewish Care ensures that survivors who speak languages other than English can access the help they need Together these services help protect survivors from hunger eviction healthcare neglect isolation and other threats to their well-being As the last generation of Holocaust survivors enters their final years we have a moral responsibility to ensure they can age with dignity and have the promotion they deserve revealed JPAC Executive Director David Bocarsly We are deeply grateful to Jewish Family Function for delivering this care every day and to the Governor the Legislature and the Jewish Caucus for stepping up to ensure this critical scheme continues Even in a challenging budget year California is showing that we will not turn our backs on the survivors who have already endured so much As the necessities of survivors continue to grow more complex advocates say that sustained resources beyond HSAP will be essential to ensuring long-term stability and dignity for those who have lived through one of history s greatest atrocities