Shelter House gets tentative $181K funding approval from Thunder Bay

City councillors in Thunder Bay have tentatively approved a one-time funding increase for Shelter House.

Officials with the shelter appeared at the city's pre-budget deputations Tuesday asking for an increase of $181,000, saying that the organization has exhausted its reserve funds in order to make ends meet. 

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Council agreed to give the shelter more funds from the municipal budget this year — pending final ratification — but councillors made it very clear that they feel that it's not something the city should continue to have to do. Instead, many around the council table argued the provincial and federal governments should step up.

"In my mind, if we keep on talking, and keep on asking and ... they keep on saying 'no,' there's got to be a time when we take a stand and say 'this may be the final year that we're doing this,'" said Coun. Joe Virdiramo.

"And that's a tough decision that we'll have to make but I think we have to take that stand to bring to light ... that this is a serious thing."

Shelter House currently receives $319,000 from the city. Last year, councillors turned down the organization's request that the city provide a $500,000 annual budget.

Officials with the shelter warned earlier this week that without the funding increase this year, some services may have to be cut.

"We're not talking about insignificant dollars tonight," Coun. Andrew Foulds said at Thursday's budget meeting. "But this add saves lives."

Door open for further requests

Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs argued the city will be going after the provincial and federal governments with a "very forceful" approach when officials meet next, despite saying the city has already been making its case.

He said the city also needs to speak with the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Hobbs argued the northwest LHIN won't fund managed alcohol programming, which Shelter House offers, but that kind of funding is available in northeastern Ontario.

Despite the tentative increase being for this year only, councillors left the door open for Shelter House to ask for more money again next year if a permanent solution isn't found.

The funding is still contingent on final ratification of the municipal budget on Feb. 29.