Shelter House requests funding increase from Thunder Bay
Programs could be cut if more money can't be found, acting executive director says
Thunder Bay's Shelter House is turning to the city for help with its finances after the group said they've exhausted their reserve fund in order to make ends meet.
The cash-strapped organization that helps homeless people with short-term housing has asked for help from the city before, but this time, acting executive director Brad King said services may be cut without additional funding.
"And that's not something we want to have to think about. It's a very, very difficult decision that we would be faced with."
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Shelter House currently receives $319,000 in yearly funding and they're looking for an increase of approximately $180,000. King said they made their deputation to city council Tuesday and hopes money can be found during budget deliberations.
It's not enough to keep going to the city for these things.- Brad King, acting executive director
Already working with a bare bones staff, the acting executive director said further cuts are not an option. The last time the group appealed for more cash, the city told them to use their reserve fund.
"Long story short, that money is now gone," King said.
Program cuts are a worst case scenario for Shelter House. They currently run a street outreach program, a managed alcohol program and a soup kitchen that feeds those in need twice daily.
Another cost-saving measure would be to ban people from staying at the shelter during daytime hours, but King noted slashing any of these services would just put a strain on emergency services.
Shelter seeks other funders
The acting executive director said the city has been a good ally for the shelter and they'd like to see more help from the provincial and federal governments.
"It's not enough to keep going to the city for these things. So the idea is that hopefully some of these other funders will come to bat and will help relieve the strain on the city."
August is the end of Shelter House's fiscal year and tough decisions may have to be made then if city council is unable to approve the funding increase.
In 2014, Thunder Bay rejected a request to provide the organization with a $500,000 budget annually.