$24K in emergency funds to Cairn Housing Society
City council approved $24,000 to the Cairn Housing Society on Monday after the society requested emergency funding.
The funds, approved at the regular meeting of council, include $16,000 for the society’s operational costs and $8,000 for its food security program.
“My concern is that we have a bigger issue,” said Mayor Jackie Clayton.
Council directed administration to bring back a report on the Food Security Committee and other food security agencies within the city so council is better informed on the current food security situation locally.
“We are in a bit of a crisis situation ... being able to access supports and services like counselling, medical services in a timely manner, especially for people experiencing mental health and addictions, is a major concern in our city right now,” said Carrie Bartsch, Cairn Housing Society executive director, informed the Public & Protective Services Committee on March 19.
“Our supports and services really are that prevention and diversion that is happening in Grande Prairie and part of our homelessness equation.”
The society needs emergency funding because a funder was unable to meet its commitment due to its own financial hardships.
The Cairn Housing Society provides support and services to the 184 residents of the Cairn housing complex who require assistance with mental health, addiction, poverty, trauma or challenges related to physical health. Additionally, it supports about 50 community members facing food insecurity by providing hot meals and groceries.
Bartsch says supporting vulnerable people who haven’t yet experienced homelessness needs to be addressed here.
“Ongoing support for people that are living in poverty that are really struggling is a major concern in our city right now,” she said.
“If we don't keep the supports and services running, we estimate 30 to 40 people will lose their housing and end up on our streets or in precarious situations.”
She said it would include families and individuals.
The society asked for $30,000 in emergency funding.
The shortfall for operational costs is about $16,000, and the society says it needs an additional $8,000 for its food security program and $6,000 for computers and software.
“Pandemic protocols, the demand for support services and cost of living increases have resulted in the organization being in a deficit position,” said Sarah Paterson, city community recreation manager.
The approved $16,000 came from the future expenditures reserves, and the $8,000 for food security came from the council strategic initiative.
City manager Shane Bourke said the request met the city’s requirements for emergency funding.
“When we're assessing emergency requests, we're looking at whether this was truly an emergency, a roof falling down or a gap in funding that was unexpected, so when we were assessing this, our view was that they did have a plan to fund this and it wouldn't have come through a normal or an alternative funding stream and that it would have an impact on residents,” he said.
Coun. Dylan Bressey noted the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre posted on social media that it no longer was offering weekend meals.
The social media post says the decision, due to funding constraints, was “not made lightly.”
The mayor wants the report on the Food Security Committee and other food security agencies to come back soon. She marked this as a priority in case other agencies are facing similar struggles and come to council for additional funding in the near future.
Clayton said it's important to ensure there is a “streamlined system” in place to ensure support is available for the community's most vulnerable.
“Making sure that the systems are as efficient as possible is a priority, in my opinion.
“I look forward to seeing how we can support the distribution of food in regards to needs in our community,” she said.
“I don't think that food security is only something that underprivileged are dealing with,” said Clayton.
“Based on what we're seeing, impacts of things such as carbon tax, impacts of the cost of groceries, impacts of the cost of utilities continue to rise and that impacts people on a daily basis.”
The report is expected to come within the next two weeks.
Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Town & Country News
