Siloam Mission considers laying off up to two dozen staffers: source

Staff at Winnipeg’s largest outreach organization are bracing for as many as 24 layoffs that could happen as early as Friday thanks to a sharp drop in donations since 2021.

Siloam Mission employees have told the Free Press the cuts could affect a range of roles, including in the kitchen, drop-in services and at The Madison, its long-term supportive housing site in Wolseley. Sources said some vacant positions will remain unfilled.

“Staff are increasingly anxious, and there is a noticeable decline in morale. Members of the HR team report that their presence is being associated with potential layoffs, further contributing to distress across teams,” a source said.

Another proposed change would halt further development of Siloam’s housing strategy, announced two years ago, which aimed to add 700 units over five to 10 years.

The mission is said to be considering cost-saving measures such as nixing cost-of-living raises in favour of adding personal days, and requiring staff to work kitchen shifts every second week. In previous years, cost-of-living increases were 2.5 per cent, with up to an additional five per cent based on performance.

An internal document obtained by the Free Press lists 23 possible cost-saving measures and notes “these are suggestions only and should not be misconstrued as already actioned.”

“It is important to clarify that what is being reported does not reflect a completed plan or any decisions being implemented at this time.”

In a statement Wednesday, board chair Tracy Silagy said no decisions have been finalized and the organization is reviewing operations to ensure long-term sustainability.

Silagy said Siloam remains focused on providing dignified care and daily front-line services will continue, while its pop-up shelter will stay open longer.

“We are aware that early and incomplete information from this internal process has been shared externally,” Silagy said. “It is important to clarify that what is being reported does not reflect a completed plan or any decisions being implemented at this time.”

She added the board and executive team want to handle the process responsibly by being transparent and communicating clearly.

Sources said some layoffs are in the works, including the departure of a drop-in supervisor before she starts maternity leave next month.

The executive team was asked to assess all staff roles, including their tasks, strengths, weaknesses and overlaps.

A source said that while such analysis is reasonable, the timing during the period of instability under a new chief executive officer has raised concerns.

The team indicated it could not complete the work immediately owing to operational demands. The source said new CEO Sonia Prevost-Derbecker responded by saying she felt bullied.

Siloam is up against a multimillion-dollar shortfall for the 2026-27 fiscal year, largely because of a decline in donations, sources said.

Private contributions dropped to $7.7 million in 2025 from more than $11.3 million in 2021.

The executive was asked to identify areas that could be reduced, including the possible closure of the evening drop-in as early as May 1.

“This will result in approximately 300 to 500 individuals no longer having access to a safe indoor space or supper service in the evenings,” a source said. “Given the current increase in drug poisonings and community vulnerability, this change presents substantial risk to client safety and community impact.”

“Charitable giving is at its lowest level in more than a decade, while the cost of food and other essentials continues to rise alongside increasing demand for services.”

Silagy pointed to the “challenging financial environment” and noted that charitable giving is at its lowest level in more than a decade while costs and demand for services mount.

“Charitable giving is at its lowest level in more than a decade, while the cost of food and other essentials continues to rise alongside increasing demand for services,” she said.

The organization received just under $8 million in federal and provincial funding in the 2025-26 fiscal year that ended March 31. Its latest financial statements have not yet been released.

The mission has been mired in turmoil following the hiring of Prevost-Derbecker in February.

Employees allege she made derogatory remarks about Indigenous people, individuals struggling with substance use and the neighbourhood around its building at 300 Princess St. Comments she made about her spending authority didn’t sit well with them.

Days later, two senior staff members publicly warned more departures could follow if the board did not reconsider her hiring. The board defended its decision to hire her from the more than 1,100 people who applied following a nationwide search.

Following Free Press stories about the workplace upheaval, one senior executive was dismissed, while another person’s job will not be renewed.

Some employees have called for the removal of Silagy and Prevost-Derbecker.

Sources said some donors have withdrawn support and some volunteers have stepped back.

Results of an internal investigation and workplace culture review are in board members’ hands. Employees and select volunteers contributed through a third-party survey and confidential interviews.

“During the period of the external HR investigation, the executive team raised concerns about workplace dynamics and requested consideration of alternative working arrangements for the CEO,” a source said.

“The response provided allowed all executive members, including the CEO, to opt to work from home at their discretion. While this approach was intended to reduce tension, it has not resolved underlying concerns regarding leadership conduct and team cohesion.”

Staff said there has been no communication about what will happen following the review of the HR investigation.

“The current environment is highly unstable, and the cumulative impact of these issues is significant,” a staff member said. “Clear direction, consistent communication, and timely transparency from the board would be critical in stabilizing both staff and operations moving forward, but we have heard and seen nothing from them.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca