Federal Funding Hold Disrupts Senior Companion Program

Senior Companion Program Paused

On Thursday, June 25, AmeriCorps Senior Corps announced that the federal Office of Management and Budget is holding grant funds for the Senior Companion Program pending release of fiscal year 2025 appropriations, effective June 30, 2025. As a result, Hawkeye Community College, which administers the program in Waterloo, will be forced to pause services during this period of financial uncertainty.

The loss of federal funds for the Senior Companion program will directly impact 87 clients and 52 senior companions, and result in the layoff of two full-time staff members and one part-time van driver.

Founded in the Waterloo area in 1976, the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program is a senior volunteer initiative that helps older adults live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Volunteers or companions, all aged 55 and older, offer support with daily tasks such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and transportation to appointments—providing both practical assistance and meaningful companionship.

“Our companions form strong bonds with the clients they serve, and this pause is devastating for both the families who rely on those services and the companions who provide them,” said Lynn LaGrone, Provost at Hawkeye Community College, who oversees the Senior Companion Program. “We are working closely with families to support their transition to alternative care options, and we remain committed to supporting our volunteers and affected employees during this difficult time.”