The Democracy Forward Foundation has filed a federal class action lawsuit against the Department of Labor to restore funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which had been frozen.
The program provides work opportunities and job training for low-income seniors over the age of 55. Congress approved funding for this year’s program back in March, but the Department of Labor has yet to release the funding.
The program was supposed to start in July but instead has left some senior citizens without a source of income. The Democracy Forward Foundation filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts on behalf of SCSEP participants across the country.
“It’s a real a lifeline and a bridge for older folks who want to work,” said Steve Moore, Director of SCSEP at United Way of the Cape Fear Area. “It’s not like they’re, looking for a government handout. They are actually wanting to get some experience and some training and contribute.”
by: Olivia Wolfson
WNCT