In late June, nonprofits across the country received an unexpected and alarming notice: funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) — a federal initiative that supports low-income older adults through paid community service placements — was paused indefinitely. 

The email came on a Friday. By Monday, participants were furloughed. Paychecks vanished, placements evaporated, and program sites were left scrambling. 

For Pennsylvania’s MaturityWorks program, SCSEP’s statewide implementation, the consequences were immediate and deeply personal. Denise J., who had been working at the front desk of Northern Living Center for over a year, remembers the moment she learned her placement was ending: 

“I was at work when my supervisor called me in. She said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but Friday will be your last day — and it’s not our choice.’ I just sat there. I couldn’t believe it. This job kept me going.” 

SCSEP provides paid, part-time community service training for adults aged 55+ who are unemployed and living on low incomes. Participants are placed in nonprofits and government agencies, gaining skills while contributing meaningfully to their communities. Many rely on the program as a primary or supplemental source of income — $310 to $600 a month can be the difference between housing and homelessness. 

When the funding stopped, Denise didn’t just lose a paycheck — she lost her daily routine, her coworkers, and a sense of purpose. 

“I live alone, so getting up, getting dressed, and coming here every day was important for me,” she said. “It wasn’t just a job. It was my connection to people.” 

In 2025, a delay in releasing over $300 million in federal SCSEP funds left national grantees like MaturityWorks in limbo. While some state-level programs remained intact, participants tied to national grants were abruptly furloughed. Nationwide, over 20,000 older adults were affected. 

At Northern Living Center, nine MaturityWorks participants worked as program aides, dietary and janitorial staff, data support, and activity assistants — touching nearly every department of the senior center. 

“They’re still showing up,” said Kamryn Bonds, Development Director at Northern Living Center. “They’re volunteering now, without pay, because they care so much. But it’s not something we can ask of them — they have bills, health needs, and families.” 

For Denise, the loss came without warning or a safety net. 

“I get by on a very tight budget,” she explained. “Even a couple hundred dollars less a month means I have to make choices — do I pay the gas bill late, or skip some groceries? It’s that real.” 

The Aging People in Prison Human Rights Campaign, led by Tomiko Shine, faced similar disruptions. “The impact was deep,” Shine said. “We had trainees involved in outreach, legal case review, in-reach to prison populations. These are older adults, many dealing with homelessness, trauma, or reentry challenges. This program wasn’t just work — it was purpose, structure, and a sense of value.” 

One of Shine’s most dedicated trainees is a retired lawyer who was previously unhoused. “He’s the one who keeps our legal files in order, drafts case summaries, and connects people with reentry support,” she said. “We’re doing our best to hold things together without him getting paid.” 

Tomiko believes this crisis is part of a larger issue. “The United States has a serious problem with ageism,” she said. “In other cultures, elders are embraced and respected. Here, they’re forgotten.” 

Denise feels the same. 

“We still have so much to give,” she said. “We’re not done yet. But the message this sends is that older people aren’t worth investing in.” 

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Northern Living Center — it landed right at the end of the fiscal year, eliminating the chance to adjust budgets. “We were just forced to absorb it,” Kamryn said. “No one gave us a roadmap. And now our members — who are already vulnerable — are paying the price.” 

Both organizations are seeking emergency funding to pay displaced trainees and stabilize services. In response to the unfolding crisis, The Sarah Ralston Foundation recently launched an Emergency Grant Program to support General Operating Support grantees facing sudden disruptions. 

“We were alerted to this crisis because of the Emergency Grant Program,” said Heather Finnegan, SRF’s Executive Director. “We’re reviewing requests for urgent staffing interruptions, catastrophic funding loss, or other crises that significantly impact service to older adults.” 

Denise hopes the stopgap will be enough to get her back to work soon. 

“If I could say one thing to the people making these decisions, it would be: give us notice. Give us time to plan. And remember we’re human beings — we deserve dignity.” 

Federal lawmakers, including Reps. Judy Chu and Pramila Jayapal, have demanded answers from the U.S. Department of Labor. But time is running out — the FY2026 budget proposal includes plans to eliminate SCSEP entirely. 

In the meantime, nonprofits are stepping up, and participants like Denise are holding onto hope. 

“One breath, this is crazy,” she said. “The next breath? I’ll be back tomorrow.” 

If you’d like to make a difference, donate to programs supporting older adults. Share this story. Contact your representatives. And most importantly, recognize the value of older adults in our communities — not as beneficiaries, but as contributors who still have work to do and wisdom to offer.