SUNDRE – With the number of service requests the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society receives doubling in 2023 over last year, the non-profit organization recently sought additional support from the Town of Sundre in the form of funding and advocacy.
Donny Krahn, the society’s executive director, presented the requests to council during a recent meeting.
“First, things need to change regarding how government grants are spent,” said Krahn. “Currently, it’s extremely difficult to use grant funding for administrative costs."
Generally speaking, she said grants are typically approved with strict guidelines on how the funds can be spent, with only a small portion usually being allowed to cover administrative costs.
“Sometimes, none at all. The vast majority of funding – government or private – is only available for programs and projects, and cannot be used for administrative costs; costs that include IT, internet, utilities, insurance, phones, supplies. But these are the necessities needed to keep our doors open."
The society therefore sought Sundre council’s advocacy support to lobby for change on behalf of not only GNP, but all non-profit groups that are in the same position.
Further to that, she said the society’s second ask of council was to consider approving short-term sustainability funding to the tune of an additional $20,000 per year.
Providing council with a snapshot of the society’s statistics from 2022, Odd said there were a little more than 2,000 service requests handled either by way of walk-ins, phone, or email.
“We saw over 2,000 in the first six months of this year alone,” she said, adding that as of the end of October, the number of service requests was up to about 4,200 with a couple of months remaining in the year.
GNP also administers Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), and operates under the governance of a volunteer board of directors with a limited staff who are dedicated part-time employees that do not receive benefits and also lack job security as a result of unstable funding, she said.
“When we had to reduce our hours three years ago, we didn’t lose any staff. That’s how committed they are to what we’re trying to accomplish,” she said, adding volunteers also racked up 4,400-plus hours in 2022.
The society’s goal to once again be open four days a week is an uphill battle in the face of roughly $82,000 in long-term government funding that has not been available since 2020.
“We want to thrive, not to survive,” she said, adding that beyond requests for additional revenue, the society of course also intends to continue pursuing its own fundraising efforts.
Emphasizing the importance of the society’s role in the community, Krahn said GNP works closely with the municipality’s peace officer, who refers individuals of no fixed address as well as those struggling with food insecurities, joblessness, and even addictions.
“While we can’t solve these problems, we can bring together the appropriate resources and direct them to those who can help,” she said, going on to recount a situation involving someone who had become unemployed as a result of addiction and also ended up homeless due to domestic abuse.
“Thankfully, we were open that day,” she said. “We contacted the emergency shelter in Olds and the local ministerial; they immediately stepped in together to support this individual” to provide emergency accommodation.
“Not all FCSS offices do this,” she said, adding Sundre Santas for example also would not fall within the FCSS mandate.
“This is the difference Greenwood Neighbourhood Place is making,” she said.
Responding to a question from Coun. Owen Petersen regarding how many people who seek services from GNP are residents of Mountain View County, she said roughly 40 per cent.
Petersen followed up to inquire what kind of funding is provided by the county.
As GNP administers FCSS for the Town of Sundre, the county provides some funding, said Krahn.
“All of the FCSS offices in the county receive this grant transfer and it is based on population,” she told the Albertan in response to a follow-up. “The FCSS funds from the county and the town account for 40 per cent of our overall budget.”
Petersen then asked if the county provides any funding to GNP specifically, to which Krahn said no, with the exception of grants the society has the option of applying for, which she called minimal.
“We are advocating for the changes moving forward through (Alberta Municipalities) and Municipal Affairs” in order to get those provincial grant restrictions revised, said Coun. Todd Dalke.
Mayor Richard Warnock recognized the ongoing issue facing non-profit service groups of securing stable short-term funding and said council would be discussing the matter.
