by Mark Millward, Grants and Information Director, Associates for Training and Development (A4TD)
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a lifeline for older workers and a vital source of staffing support for nonprofits and public agencies. Due to a delay in federal funding for Program Year 2025, SCSEP operations in Vermont have been sharply reduced. Participants have been furloughed, organizations that host SCSEP participants have lost valuable team members, and the local economy is feeling the effects.
SCSEP is the nation’s only federally funded job training program for low-income, unemployed older adults age 55+ who have barriers to employment, helping participants gain new skills and work experience so they can transition into unsubsidized employment. Participants are placed at local nonprofits and public agencies, where they earn income while providing critical community services.
Local Impact of Funding Delay:
- Participants affected: 49
- Host agencies affected: 26
- Hours lost: 3,920 per month
- Estimated value of lost work: $136,377 per month (Based on Independent Sector’s estimated volunteer labor value of $34.79 per hour)
Consequences:
- Older workers losing income they rely on for basic needs such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation.
- Loss of training, skill development, and career advancement opportunities that could lead to stable, unsubsidized employment.
- Reduced engagement and sense of purpose; participants lose the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
- Social isolation and mental health impacts from being removed from regular work, colleagues, and supportive networks.
- Disruption of critical community services provided by participants, including assistance in healthcare settings, food pantries, senior centers, and other nonprofit programs.
- Decreased local economic activity as participants lose spending power, impacting small businesses and community vitality.
Participant Testimony: The Human Impact of SCSEP Funding Delays
Tonya, a U.S. Army Veteran and Registered Nurse, shares a stark picture of struggle: "Do you know how many slices of bread are in a loaf?" she asked once—not as trivia, but because that’s all she could afford some weeks. Through SCSEP, she rebuilt her confidence, learned digital skills, and even began exploring reinstating her RN license. "Now, with the program on hold, my clinicals and exams are at risk, and so is my path back to the profession I love," she says.
Diane, age 68, adds: "A4TD was giving me the training I needed to get back in the workforce, which I haven’t completed because of the furlough. I became disabled 2½ years ago after a bad accident that left my dominant arm impaired. I lost my housecleaning business, and I only receive $820 a month plus food stamps. I need expensive shoes and medical hygiene items to stay mobile. Please do what you can so I can live a comfortable life and find the job that fits me."
These stories show why SCSEP matters. It’s more than a training program—it restores dignity, independence, and hope for seniors who are ready to contribute again. Delays in funding aren’t just numbers on a page; they have real, immediate consequences for seniors who depend on this program every day.
Host Agency Impact Stories – Richford Renaissance Gift Shop
In the small border town of Richford, Vermont, Richford Renaissance Corporation is a local nonprofit focused on community restoration and revitalization work. Their mission includes improving housing and housing opportunities in the town.
One of their key operations is the Richford Renaissance Gift Shop, which serves both as a local retail point for handmade or community-contributed gifts and as a community hub. The shop depends heavily on volunteer work and community investment. Its presence adds charm to Richford’s River Street location, helping to preserve the historic character of the town while also supporting the nonprofit’s broader goals.
John Libby, who oversees day-to-day operations at the Gift Shop, credits the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) with helping keep things running smoothly. “Our SCSEP participant manages stock, keeps the space clean, and greets every customer with a smile,” he says. “People in the community have come to depend on her.”
When funding delays hit, the shop felt it immediately. “We try to keep two people on duty at all times,” Libby explains, “but without SCSEP, that means more work falls to the rest of our volunteers. We have no paid staff, so losing even one person makes a big difference.”
For Libby, the value of SCSEP isn’t just operational. “This program is a lifeline,” he says. “It helps nonprofits like ours, and it gives older adults—many of them low-income and at risk of isolation—a chance to stay active, socialize, and earn a little income. That’s good for them, and it’s good for our whole community.”
Statement from S. Alex Fizz, CEO of A4TD
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Economic Impact Summary
In Vermont, the delayed funding has resulted in:
- 3,920 hours lost per month
- $136,377 in lost labor value per month
- Fewer community services delivered, such as Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County, Rutland City Rescue Mission, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Northeast Kingdom Community Action, and Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity.
This impact ripples outward — participants spend less at local businesses, nonprofits must shift resources, and community members face service reductions.
Older Workers Strengthen Communities — When We Give Them the Chance
At Associates for Training and Development (A4TD), we see every day how the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) changes lives. SCSEP is the only federal job training program specifically designed for low-income, unemployed adults aged 55 and older. Funded through the Older Americans Act, it provides paid, part-time community service assignments that build skills and lead to unsubsidized employment.
One story that stays with me is that of a couple who faced the very real possibility of losing their home. Through SCSEP, they did not simply regain financial stability. They rediscovered purpose and the ability to contribute meaningfully to their community.
The wife learned to lead meetings, manage complex paperwork for federal approval, and recruit others into the program. These are skills that prepare her for high-responsibility roles in government and community leadership. Her husband, after more than twenty years as a janitor, began a new chapter as a library assistant. With training and on-the-job support, he is now on a path toward sustaining unsubsidized employment in a role that draws on his strengths and serves his neighbors.
Their journey is not unique. Across the country, SCSEP participants gain confidence, independence, and dignity while strengthening the communities they serve. Every placement benefits local organizations such as libraries, senior centers, and nonprofits by filling essential roles that keep services running. When older workers are trained and engaged, towns thrive and social services become more resilient.
The program’s design ensures that participants gain both technical and interpersonal skills. They work about 20 hours per week at no less than the highest applicable minimum wage, gaining experience that employers value. Host sites benefit from dedicated, mission-driven team members, while participants build the competencies needed to transition into unsubsidized employment.
However, SCSEP’s success depends on stable and timely funding. Delayed or inconsistent support has immediate consequences. Training is interrupted, participants are furloughed, and host sites lose vital staffing. For older Americans ready to contribute, these delays are not simply administrative setbacks. They are disruptions to income, routine, and the ability to live with independence and purpose.
At A4TD, we know the power of SCSEP because we see it in action. With stable funding, we can expand opportunities like those experienced by this couple, helping more older workers prepare for meaningful employment while strengthening communities across the state.
Their story is proof of what is possible when older Americans are given the tools and support to thrive. It is also a reminder of what our communities stand to gain when programs like SCSEP are fully funded and sustained. Investing in older workers is not only the right thing to do. It is a strategic choice that benefits everyone — from the individuals served to the communities they help build.
Associates for Training and Development
3 Champlain Commons, Suite 2, St. Albans, VT 05478
PO Box 107, St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 999-0219
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