Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona confirmed Thursday that it is laying off 74 of its employees.
KGUN 9 first learned of the layoffs through a WARN notice issued through the state.
According to Tim Kromer, Executive Director of Philanthropy for CCS, the employees being let go are part of its Community Living Program, which provides services in a group home setting to about 30 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
According to Kromer, the program hasn't received an increase in federal funding, despite rising costs, since 2019, making it unsustainable.
Kromer said CCS is partnering with the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, an arm of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, to shift the program to another vendor.
Kromer said the hope is to transition the employees from their current positions at CCS to the vendor chosen for the program.
"These employees will retain their jobs throughout the transition to a new vendor, which will take at least 90 days," Kromer said in a statement. "We express our sincere gratitude for the time, effort, and commitment they have given to Catholic Community Services and the individuals they serve."
Kromer continued in the statement that CCS is committed to working with staff members through the transition, providing them regular updates, "helping them understand their options, and exploring opportunities within CCS whenever possible."
Kromer said in the statement that the transition will ensure that the residents CCS serves will see no disruption in care.
"By transitioning this program to an organization whose primary focus is this type of care, we are ensuring that residents will continue to receive high-quality, compassionate support within a stronger, more sustainable model," he said.
