Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. to close offices, cuts back hours

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- The tightening of the budget at the federal level is creating a tighter budget for local programs.

"Due to drastic cutbacks in the Federal Community Service Block Grant program which drives many of the services provided, DAEOC will no longer be able to operate a full-time physical outreach office in every county of our service area," said Joel Evans, chief operation officer with the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation. Evans estimated grant funds were by cut 50 percent to DAEOC, a not-for-profit organization serving Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard counties. DAEOC's services range from Head Start to housing for the homeless to weatherization in the six-county area of the Bootheel.

To deal with the reduction in funding, Evans said the organization began with a restructuring of its outreach program.

He explained the outreach offices in Stoddard County and Mississippi County are closing. Beginning Monday residents from those counties and Scott County will all be served at the outreach office at 820 Anderson St. in Sikeston.

The outreach office in New Madrid for New Madrid County residents will relocate to the corporate offices in Portageville.

Dunklin County residents will continue to be served through the Kennett office and Pemiscot residents will still be served by the Hayti office, he said.

According to Evans, he and the staff made an effort to keep an outreach center readily accessible to all residents served by DAEOC. "We have tried to position offices within 25 miles of clients," he said.

The closing and relocations will save some $500,000 annually in rent and utilities, the COO estimated. The bigger savings, he said, is in personnel and transportation costs back and fourth between offices.

Last year at this time there were 37 employees staffing the county outreach offices while this year there are 16 to 18, which includes some of the central office staff who work with clients.

Evans also said previously DAEOC had managers going from location to location. Now managers will be on site for the most part.

"By having fewer locations it makes it easier to staff those offices," said Evans. "Our staff won't be stretched so thin."

In addition, Evans said, DAEOC didn't bring back as many of those who worked seasonally in the corporation's energy program. He estimated this staff was reduced by about one-third.

Emphasizing the reductions will enable DAEOC to funnel more money into services for those in need, Evans acknowledged it also creates some problems for those served by DAEOC.

"The clients we serve are the most heavily impacted by a downturn in the economy," Evans said. "We are now forcing them to travel a little further for services also there will be less money available for energy assistance."

However, he continued, clients may also find some improvement in services. Evans said by combining the offices in Scott, Stoddard and Mississippi counties, clients may find services more efficient. Also he said by combining the outreach center and the already existing homeless shelter, DAEOC is better using its space.

He praised the DAEOC staff for their efforts to be flexible in dealing with the cuts.

"We realize it will be a rocky road as we are forced to do as much as we can with half as much money," said Evans.

Outreach offices are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. All outreach offices are closed on Fridays.

Pertinent address:

Portageville, MO

820 Anderson St., Sikeston, MO

Kennett, MO

Hayti, MO