Social service agencies call for stable city funding

Several social service groups are supporting anapplication that would re-open the process for newagencies to apply for core funding from the citya process that has been closed since 2010.

The proposal is part of a package of policies pitched by councillors from the urban core during consultations ahead of the municipal budget.

• Urbancouncillorsponder possibilities of steeper tax hike
• Long-term, predictable funding still missing from city budget

The proposal includes a $500,000 boost for groups already funded by the city and a$500,000 "on ramp" so agencies that aren't currently on the list could apply for stable municipal funding.

Elspeth McKay, executive director of Operation Come Home, said her organization has relied on fundraising and individual donations to operate its resource centre for the last decade.

"We have no core funding for our agency," she said.

"We are not able to pay for a lot of our infrastructural expenses, such as rent and staffing. And right now the most important thing for us is to be able to pay for enough staff for them to feel safe when they're working with the youth that come to our centre."

Theopioidoverdose crisis has raised concerns about safety. Staff have dealt with four overdoses in the last couple of months, she said.

The Gloucester Street resource centre regularly has a line of 50 to 60 people outside before it opens at 8 a.m. on weekdays, McKaysaid. It's the only centre open during the day for teenagerswho are still too young toaccess adult centres.

"We consider that to be, especially at this point, an essential service." she said.

McKay said $125,000 a year would allow for three part-time staff to run the resource centre with its current hours.

Other groups such as Club Casa de los Abuelos, which provides support to Spanish-speaking seniors, and the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa are also supporting the re-opening of applications for city funding.

Funding 'essentially sealed' since 2010

In 2010, the city closed the list of social organizations that could get core funding and many services weren't on that list. The city currently spends about $20 millioneach year on about200 groups offeringservices.

"That bucket for funding is essentially sealed, whoever is in is in," said Coun. Catherine McKenney.

The Somerset Ward councillor said a front-line service like Operation Come Home should get funding. She's among thecouncillorsproposing the $500,000fund.

It's being done by hearsay and that's no way to respond tothe some of the most dire needs in the community.- Catherine McKenney

Agencies that don't currently receive municipal funding could apply on a year-by-year basis and then eventually beintegrated into the groupeligible for core funding.

The city doesn't track how many agencies might need funding, McKenneysaid, so this could be an opportunity to better assess the situation.

"It's being done by hearsay and that's no way to respond tothe some of the most dire needs in the community," she said.

"We need to know:who needs funding? What's it for? What are the needs that are in our community that perhaps weren't there five, ten yearsago?"

The draft city budget will be tabled Nov. 8.