THUNDER BAY -- The Shelter House will likely have to change services offered in 2015 after an appeal for additional funding has been denied.
Shelter House manager of operations Doug Forbes confirmed the organization was notified on Monday that an appeal to increase the amount of funding from the city’s community fund to $500,000 from the current $235,000 was rejected. Instead the organization will see a slight increase to $255,000.
The request for additional funding was said to be a result of the expansion of their Street Outreach Services and alcohol management programs, as well as to meet increased demand for the shelter which consistently runs at full capacity.
The decision from the appeals committee, which is comprised of councillors Iain Angus, Andrew Foulds, Trevor Giertuga and Larry Hebert, is likely going to lead to some tough decisions.
“It puts us in a spot where we’ll have to meet with the board in the New Year and decide how we’re going to sustain our levels of service, seeing that we’re operating at a deficit,” Forbes said.
Executive director Patty Hajdu had previously said a denial might result in a cut to staff hours or a cancellation of some programs, such as the $500,000 alcohol management program.
It might also mean the Shelter House will not operate 24 hours a day.
The initial request for the grant increase, which comes from a fund designated for cultural and community programs, was denied by city administration.
At that time Hajdu said she was told Shelter House should apply for more funding through the provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, though she said the organization would not be eligible because it is not a health provider.
That $235,000 composes of one-twentieth of one per cent of the city’s gross operating budget, which the request would have upped to one-ninth of one percent.
Council had voted on Dec. 8 to grant Shelter House an additional $50,000 to allow them to continue to operate the SOS program.
Foulds admitted the Shelter House case was unusual, particularly around the process.
“There was significant discussion about Shelter House and particularly around the SOS program,” he said. “It was felt by the committee that because Shelter House had already come to council directly it would be up to council to make a decision on whether or not it would increase the funding.”
He added he applauds the work done by Shelter House, particularly with the SOS program saying he thinks there are “huge benefits to the community as well as the emergency services.”
“I am personally supportive of the SOS program,” Foulds said. “If a motion came forward during the budget process I would be supporting it.”
