Non-profits call for sustainable funding commitments

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/09/2023 (763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Non-profit organizations are calling on Manitoba’s political parties to commit to sustainable funding and a “permanent home” in government for their sector.

Fourteen organizations have collaborated on three recommendations they have sent to the four parties currently on the campaign trail: the introduction of multi-year, long-term funding promises, the release of a sector-led non-profit strategy, and establishing a role within government tasked with maintaining connections between the provincial government and non-profits.

“Without these non-profits, our province would look really drastically different, and we need to make sure they’re provided with the proper supports, resources, funding that they need to do to continue their work,” said Michael Barkman, network manager for the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network.

The B.C. government has an elected Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits. Barkman said a non-profit strategy almost came to fruition in Manitoba in 2018, after consultations were held with organizations across the province, but that strategy was never released.

“I wouldn’t place the blame for the crisis we’re in squarely at the hands of one government or one party, necessarily,” he said.

“I would say over the past few years, especially since the pandemic, non-profits in Manitoba have had a hard time being able to consistently and effectively communicate their challenges to the current government and receive the sort of broad-sector support that is needed.”

Barkman said the Manitoba NDP and Liberal Party have agreed to meet with non-profits about the recommendations within the next week. The Green Party and the Progressive Conservatives have not responded.

The skyrocketing cost of living is resulting in what Barkman calls a “staffing crisis” in Manitoba’s community-support organizations. Groups reliant on provincial funding are unable to retain staff, and underpaid workers still burnt out from the increased responsibilities placed on them during COVID-19 are leaving jobs that don’t offer benefits or pension plans.

“I think what’s sort of been the irony, or the accelerated challenge, is that governments really rely on community non-profits. … And we (provide service) at a much cheaper cost, and at a much lesser rate in terms of what people are being paid, what supports are available for staff,” he said.

That accelerated challenge has become a constant struggle at Heartwood Healing Centre (formerly the Laurel Centre), the only organization in Manitoba with a primary focus on childhood sexual abuse.

The midsize non-profit offers free of charge long-term therapy for people to help process trauma and move forward past abuse. With 22 staff, a budget of $1.5 million and funding coming in part from the provincial and federal governments, the organization has found itself unable to keep up with the need it’s seeing.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Biidaajimowin | News from the Centre

Wednesdays

Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences.

Sign up for Biidaajimowin | News from the Centre

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“Right now, we are struggling… like we have never have struggled before,” said executive director Heather Leeman.

In the last two years, Heartwood has seen the highest number of staff turnover in its history, Leeman said. In the last two months, four staff members have resigned, with most going on to pursue opportunities with more competitive salaries, and some citing burnout as the reason for departing. The centre has also had to sideline aspects of its work, such as public education and awareness projects.

In July, Heartwood had to make the difficult choice to close its waitlist for long-term therapy. People on that list are currently waiting for two and a half years to get help.

“We already don’t have enough resources to be able to meet the need in the community. And then when we have this staff turnover, and having to shut down that waitlist, that just means people are going to be waiting even longer,” Leeman said.

“It means when people call us, we can’t even book an appointment to meet with them and talk about what their needs are.”

Malak Abas
Reporter

Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak.

Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.