In spite of the constraints caused by a shrinking budget over the past five years, programs sponsored by Madison House continue to give students an opportunity to contribute to the community.
Though there is a lack of funding, Elizabeth Argeris, student co-chair of the Madison House Board of Directors, was adamant that Madison House still provides well-trained volunteers and quality programs.
"The problem is that the budget covers the bare necessities, and often the program directors have to use their own money to go the extra mile," Argeris said.
Dwindling funds
As a student-run, non-profit organization, Madison House is responsible for coordinating the largest group of student volunteers on Grounds. According to Elizabeth Bass, Madison House associate director for programs, over 50 percent of graduating fourth years have volunteered through Madison House at some point in their college careers. An average of 3,000 volunteers work in the community on behalf of Madison House each week, she added.
The Madison House de-funding plan has frustrated several program directors, including Kelly Chewning, who heads the Greenlight program, which provides outdoor and environmental education for children in the local community.
Chewning, a fourth-year College student, also serves as president of a Contracted Independent Organization on Grounds and said her CIO receives more direct funding than her program through Madison House.
"The infrastructure of Madison House makes my job so much easier," she said. "Because of its long history, it has been able to work out the kinks."
Chewning also said she thinks the funding from Student Council should be proportionate to the number of students Madison House represents.
Feeling the effects
Third-year Engineering student Margo Villadelgado is a program director for the Housing Improvement Program, one of the smaller programs that Madison House runs. Through the program, volunteers help to renovate and rehabilitate homes for low-income families in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area. The program receives a $500 budget for supplies every year, Villadelgado said.
"Safety equipment comes first, and tools are expensive, so it hasn't allowed us to buy the more specialized tools we would like," she said.
Villadelgado stressed that the limited budget is directly proportional to the number of projects that the program can take on.
The program provides mileage reimbursement for volunteers who have to drive to sites. However, recent projects have been up to 40 miles away. Villadelgado said further budget cuts may make it impossible to reimburse their drivers, potentially deterring future volunteers.
Despite its funding problems, Bass said she would like to see Madison House continue to expand its focus if possible.
"We have the volunteer and community interest for Madison House to continue to grow, but because of our funding we can't take on more than three or four new programs a year," she said.
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