MINDEMOYA—Community Living Ontario (CLO) and similar organizations around the province are calling on the provincial government to provide a five percent boost in core funding as well as a corresponding five percent increase in program funding to rectify the dire financial situation many are currently facing.
“Right now, things are status quo for us, but if anything broke down, for instance leaks from the roof on two of our residents’ homes, we would be in a dire financial situation,” stated Adrienne Farquhar, executive director of Community Living Manitoulin (CLM). “I would say we are similar to the state that Sudbury’s Community Living (SCL) organization is in.”
As reported by Sudbury.com January 13, SCL is running out of money. A news release from the organization, which supports people with intellectual disabilities, said SCL is “facing serious financial pressures.”
Sherry Salo, the executive director for the Sudbury organization told Sudbury.com one of the key issues is that there is no budget for any capital spending, which is usually for higher priced expenses. “Right now, I have no budget for capital costs,” she said. The funding issues have also led to the inability to recruit support workers, putting a huge strain on the system and on families who are struggling to cope, said the SCL release.
“The cost of living has increased as has payroll and rent for all non-profit agencies,” said Ms. Farquhar. “In certain areas funding has not increased.”
She explained, “for two of our main resident buildings, they both need a new roof. And in one of our resident homes, it needs a sprinkler system installed to meet the fire code.” She explained CLM had funding for this from the province, then COVID-19 hit. “Then after COVID we reapplied for the funding again and were denied. Fortunately, we are able to apply for funding again in this fiscal year.”
The issues with funding are province-wide according to a news release from CLO and the 117 member agencies. CLO said it is “facing a critical funding shortfall leading to a reduction of services for people with intellectual disabilities, closure of day supports and severe staffing issues because they can’t pay workers as much as other educational and health workers.”
CLO has launched a special campaign urging the Ontario government to step up with a five percent boost in core funding as well as a corresponding five percent increase in passport program funding and special services at home (SSAH), said the Ontario group. The Ontario call to action includes having citizens write letters and meeting with their local MPPs alerting them to the dire situation facing Ontarians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
CLO CEO Chris Beesley told Sudbury.com it has been decades since the group received an adequate funding increase. “We have not benefitted from a significant cost of living increase in thirty years,” he said noting with soaring inflation, the system is no longer sustainable.
“One thing we have done is created a fundraising committee,” said Ms. Farquhar. “We will be holding several fundraisers over the year, including one large event we are planning for September. We will have to rely on the community for support of our agency.”
“Yes, our organization is also calling on the province to provide a five percent increase in base funding. I submitted a letter on behalf of our agency,” said Ms. Farquhar.
“Unfortunately, the organizations whose mission it is to support people to live inclusive lives are being starved of the resources they need just to keep the heat and lights on, to put gas in their accessible vehicles, to buy food to feed people, and to try to find qualified staff during a human resource crisis,” a CLO press release states. “In the face of rising inflation and skyrocketing costs it is becoming impossible to meet the needs of the people they are committed to supporting. This is putting people’s lives at risk. We are calling on the Ontario government to provide an immediate five percent boost to developmental services agency core funding, as well as passport and special services at home. Make your voice heard alongside ours, send a message to your representatives at Queen’s Part to tell them the developmental services sector needs #5ToSurvive.”
Mr. Farquhar said CLM “has a deadline of January 1, 2025, for the water sprinkler to be installed in one of our resident homes. This is our most immediate barrier. We need people to understand as we go through this fundraising campaign, we are not doing this to provide for non-necessary things. For instance, several of our vans need to be off the road in the next couple of years. Having these vans directly helps provide quality of life for our residents.”
