Alberta non-profit organizations joined forces Tuesday to issue an urgent plea to the province for more funding.
The request for an immediate, one-time top-up of $30 million comes as many charities across Alberta juggle increased demand for services while revenues — including donations — drop significantly.
Karen Ball, president and CEO of Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO), was joined by leaders from Alberta’s non-profit and business community, who all spoke about the fight.
“In all my 30 years of working in the not-for-profit sector in Alberta, I have never before seen the strain on our vital systems in our sector to this degree,” Ball said.
If the cash doesn’t come through, Albertans will pay the price in more ways than one, including longer wait times and less access to services.
“In simple terms, if Alberta’s nonprofits fail, more Albertans will go to bed hungry, homeless and put in situations where they have a greater need for our health care and justice system,” she said.
“This sector is too important to fail.”
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The Children’s Cottage Society was one of the groups that made the call for emergency funding. It offers many services, including shelter for young children who need a temporary place to live. It houses about 1,100 of these children a year, but has to turn away another 1,900.
CEO Danielle Ladouceur said their services are spread thin and they have less capacity to serve people at a time when the need has never been greater.
Ladouceur added that dedicated staff also had to do more – with less.
“It is shameful not to provide enough money to give increases to our workers in more than seven years,” she said. “It is disrespectful not to consider the amount they sacrificed and gave.”
The organization is building for the future with a new 20-bed facility currently under construction in Calgary, but officials told Global News it also needs a cash injection.
“We probably need another good $10 million for our new facility,” said Janet Hettler, manager of Crisis Nursery.
“That facility should have 20 beds, but we probably won’t open with 20 beds at the beginning because the funding won’t be there.”
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Global News reached out to the province with the concern and the call for more cash.
The Minister for Seniors, Community and Social Services, Jeremy Nixon, responded that the province recognizes the “vital role” that non-profit organizations play across the province.
“Our support for nonprofits in the past has been extensive, but with higher costs facing today, our government is actively working to address the concerns of all Albertans.”
Nixon’s statement went on to say the province will consider how many families rely on non-profits when making budget decisions for the sector.
So far, Ball said she has heard nothing from the government about this latest call for urgent funding.
“In the past, we have consistently received the answer from the government that there is no new money.”
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
