Rep. Sykes Leads Letter Requesting Clarification on Senior Community Service Employment Program

Rep. Sykes Leads Letter Requesting Clarification on Senior Community Service Employment Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) led a letter requesting guidance and funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). A delay by the Department of Labor (DOL) issuing official guidance and grant awards for Program Year 2025 has forced participants to pause activities effective July 1, 2025, even though DOL indicated that SCSEP is expected to be funded through July 30, 2026. This has caused frozen programs at seven SCSEP providers across Ohio: Ohio Department of Aging, AARP Foundation, Goodwill Industries, Inc., Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, VANTAGE Aging (formerly Mature Services, Inc.), National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., and National Council on Aging/Pathstone.

SCSEP is a community service and work-based job training program for older Americans. Authorized by the Older Americans Act, the program provides training for low-income, unemployed seniors. SCSEP participants gain work experience in a variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including schools, hospitals, day-care centers, and senior centers. The program provides over 40 million community service hours to public and non-profit agencies, allowing them to enhance and provide needed services. This training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities for participants.

Rep. Sykes' letter stated:

Due to the delay by DOL in issuing the official guidance and grant awards for PY25, SCSEP

grantees, including seven in Ohio, have been forced to pause participant activities effective July

1, 2025. While DOL has indicated that SCSEP is expected to be funded through June 30, 2026,

the absence of official documentation and the delay in the release of funds has already prevented

many grantees from continuing operations beyond June 30, 2025.

Unfortunately, the delayed funding has already paused job training for seniors in our community.

Ninety-six older adults in Ohio who are striving to overcome employment barriers have suddenly

lost access to critical training opportunities and the modest wages they depend on to meet basic

needs such as food, housing, medications, and transportation. Beyond the immediate financial toll, this disruption also undermines the progress they have made toward self-sufficiency and

threatens the structure and purpose SCSEP provides.

The impact of delayed funding goes beyond SCSEP participants. SCSEP trainees offer millions

of crucial service hours to community organizations, helping deliver millions of crucial service

hours to community organizations, helping deliver vital resources to local communities. Without

SCSEP trainees, the overall ability to meet community needs decreases significantly.

Read the full letter here.