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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Community Development Halton scrambling after losing funding By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A charitable organization that connects volunteers with agencies who need them is being forced to scale back its services now that it's losing a key source of funding. Community Development Halton (CDH) recently found out the United Way of Oakville won't be providing it with any financial support come 2009 -- a loss of $125,000. The United Way is also cutting CDH's 2008 funding by 30 per cent, effective immediately, CDH executive director Dr. Joey Edwardh told the Region's health and social services committee Tuesday. "It is considerable and alarming," Dr. Edwardh said. "If any agency loses that amount of funding, it has to scale back programming." She explained CDH received a letter about two weeks ago from the United Way of Oakville that said the organization's work doesn't speak to the funding agency's priority areas. CDH offers two distinct services: Volunteer Halton, which supports volunteers and community agencies that require volunteer help, and Social Planning, which helps communities determine ways to improve the quali- "It is considerable and alarming. If any agency loses that amount of funding, it has to scale back programming." Dr. Joey Edwardh, Community Development Halton ty of life for its residents. Edwardh said the CDH board has met and will continue to meet to decide how to deal with the funding loss, such as where cutbacks could be made. "Core funding is the greatest challenge of agencies in our sector," she added. Oakville Councillor Fred Oliver urged CDH to write to the United Way to ask it to reconsider its decision. "A number of people donate to the United Way to assist this program," he pointed out. The councillors in attendance agreed there are a number of other organizations in the community that are also suffering due to cuts from their funding agencies. Burlington Councillor Carol D'Amelio said she's concerned about the loss of important services in the community and asked staff to report back on the implications of funding cuts -- from the United Way of Oakville and other agencies -- to various organizations operating in Halton. "Core funding is an extremely important issue," she noted. CDH's other funding sources include the Region, the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton and a collection of provincial and federal organizations. RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AWNINGS, CANOPIES, PORTABLE SHADE STRUCTURES SAVE $ 100 on in stock i t k awnings gs Manufacture Manufactured with o your choice of fade Sunb proof Sunbrella po fabric, and powered by a reliable Somfy remote cont controlled motor. Call or visit our showroom at: 4090 Ridgeway Dr. #10, Mississauga 905-569-8566 www.sunguardawnings.com Mon.-Fri. 9:30am to 5pm, Sat 10:00am to 3pm