The charity question

But not everyone has a bright outlook. They fear that charities -- which some complain attract a bad element to the city or serve illegal immigrants -- will not only be discouraged from asking for grants, but also that they'll ultimately be invited to take their services elsewhere.

"I believe the goal is to eradicate any provider of free social services -- it doesn't matter what," Save Our Youth's Murphy said.

Share Our Selves doesn't have as much to worry about because it owns its building and doesn't depend on government funding, Forbath said.

But, she cautioned, "The nonprofits that do not own their own building are at risk if the situation doesn't change."20060129its2zkncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Day laborers wait for work at the temporary job center in one of Orange Coast College's parking lots. The temporary site closed last week, and the city-run Job Center closed last month after 17 years of operation. Business, church and charity groups have picked up the cause of finding a new job center. 20060129its302ncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Day laborers wait for work at the now-closed temporary job center at Orange Coast College.