Dear Hope Services Community,

For more than 70 years, Hope Services has remained a pillar of support and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. We’ve weathered political shifts and economic uncertainty before—but the challenges we now face present an unprecedented threat to the essential services we provide and to the broader safety net that upholds our most vulnerable neighbors.

The passage of H.R. 1 and the proposed cuts to the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Medicaid funding are a one-two punch with wide-reaching consequences. These policy changes stand to significantly reduce federal and state support for vital programs while increasing the burden on nonprofit organizations.

We are proud to be one of many threads in the social safety net and we know from experience that when even one thread unravels, the entire fabric begins to fray. Even if Hope Services is able to sustain its programming, we do not operate in isolation. Cuts to our partner organizations, healthcare providers, and community-based programs directly affect our clients’ well-being and our ability to deliver holistic, coordinated care.

The weight of these cuts will not fall evenly. Communities already facing systemic barriers—such as people of color, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities—will be hit hardest by diminished access to healthcare, housing, and social services. These compounded challenges only deepen existing inequities and threaten to undo decades of progress in disability rights and inclusion.

We are currently assessing the full impact of these developments. Early estimates are deeply concerning:

Over 11% of Hope Services’ funding—approximately $6.45 million—is at risk due to proposed DDS reductions.

An additional 7% of our annual budget, or $4.25 million, is tied to Medicaid funding for mental health services.

Now is the time to act. We ask every member of the Hope family to take time to learn about what is at stake. These decisions will affect people—real people—who rely on us and our partners for everyday support, care, and dignity.

California May Revision: DDS & Medi‑Cal Impact

Budget Center Fact Sheet: People with Disabilities Face Great Harm

ANCOR Medicaid Resource Center

Your support matters now more than ever. If these proposed cuts become reality, the consequences will be immediate and far-reaching. We need your partnership to ensure we can continue meeting urgent needs without disruption. Please consider making a gift of flexible funding—resources that empower us to respond swiftly, adapt to evolving challenges, and direct support where it is most critically needed.

Click here to view our Action Plan outlining our response to these threats, including advocacy efforts, contingency planning, and how we are standing in solidarity with our partners and the people we serve.

We’ve been here before—but never quite like this. Together, we can ensure that Hope endures.

With appreciation and resolve,

Aila Malik
Interim CEO, Hope Services