The resource manager for Lift Community Services says they will continue providing programming at its Joyce Avenue location despite a six-figure cut in funding.
Jessica Colasanto told city council March 3 the cut came as a surprise.
“We don’t get all of our funding at the beginning of the fiscal year, sometimes it comes in much later. You know, to plan for a fiscal year it’s difficult. Minimum of $100,000 was the biggest (cut)…the one we weren’t expecting,” Colasanto said.
The agency is trying to navigate with fewer dollars while demand goes up.
Colasanto says they’re seeing about five new families a month for family programs and 30 new faces monthly for community resource center services.
Consolidated under a community house model at 4871 Joyce Avenue Unit 101 in Crossroads Village since last year, Colasanto says some changes had to be made.
“We’re hoping to minimize impact to the people that we serve. It will noticeably impact our adult drop-in hours the most and unfortunately, it’s also impacting our staffing,” she said.
Council has agreed to send a letter of support to the B.C. Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in order for the agency to lobby for future funding.
Some of the no-charge services the agency offers include phone support to change direct deposit, reviewing Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) applications, sending faxes, a tax clinic for low-income earners, getting people on a housing wait list and help with applying for the disability tax credit.
