6 bd 5 g -HALTON NON-PROFITS STRUGGLING WITHOUT SUSTAINED FUNDING iS -— 8 3 KATHY YANCHUS lives. It stops generational ® kyanchus@metroland.com " H H i reliance on welfare and 3 Coming out of 2022 everything is saves the government and § Many of Halton's non- Ey A * taxpayers so much money 2 profit community service different. Funding is lower from over the long-term, but it ¥; agencies are asked to sup- . Pre requires a real invest- j portsrugpinefamies de corporations, individual donors and mont in thove families ives spite having operated for in the short term," said 2 years with inadequate, un- stable funding, and wom- en's financially underval- ued labour. government. Fundraising activities are cumming, alsoa sociology 2 . professor at Sheridan Col- not having the same returns as they » Pre-pandemic, HSH was So says Anne Douglas, DANA = ic enjoying unprecedented chair of the Advancement SAVIS phot Wika Nomandesu photo were pre pandemic. . . success, said Cumming. ol omen in Halton Above: SAVIS tive direct Si - Sara Cumming, executive director of Home Suite Hope "Coming out of 2022 ev- (AWH), acollective of 201lo- —_ organization has a waiting Ts of three months for services. erythingi is different. Fund- cal social service groups _ Right: Home Suite Hope executive director Sara Cumming says wards of a strong econo- _ scarcity of funds, massive ing is lower from corpora- working toward achieving _ people can't work through the difficulties in their lives until they — my," said Douglas. loss of volunteers, over- tions, individual donors gender equality for wom- _ have safe and affordable housing. The pandemic only whelmed and underpaid and government. Fund- en. highlighted the glarin; staff and increased de- raising activities are not “At theheight ofthe pan- dried up, and the unsung at events is onerous, and lity that the “essential mand for services. having the same returns as demic, these organizations heroes who served on the donations aren't flowing work" of caring for the vul- For the first time inher _ they were pre-pandemic." scrambled to keep lifelines pandemic's front line freely,saidSaraCumming, nerable “has been grossly five-year tenure at HSH, Three years ago, all 20 of open for the most vulnera- faced with the daunting executive directorofHome undervalued,"accordingto Cummingsaidsheis"expe- HSH's single parent-led ble. They were lauded by fallout: rising numbers in Suite Hope (HSH). the AWH. riencingrealanxietyabout families became self-suffi- many, including politi- need and no core funding. “It is time for the govern- Community Develop- its future torun program- cient. cians, for their essential Fundraising doesn't of- ment and not charity to ment Halton research find- ming as it currently ex- “Fast forward not even a work. fermuch hope, as soliciting support the non-profit ings released in 2023 con- _ ists.’ full year and we had almost Today, Douglas said, event sponsors is increas- agency staff and people firmed that agencies con- "The programming we any COVID funding has _inglydifficult,fillngtables whoarenotreapingthere- tinuetostrugglebecauseof have changes people's 's See AGENCIES, page 14 Individuals Must Payroll, HST including QUALITY PRICE SERVICE CARPET | By: Store Buying Power Tax Amnesty, & Reassessments Tax Audit, & Appeal CRA Collection Instalment Eq ROL (Te Taxpayer Relief and Fairness + 200 $3.99 so. ersten VINYL PLANK BY: PERGO / KARASTAN, BIYORK, NAF STARTING AT $2.99 so.r1 Ying Yang Chartered Professic Accountant Edge Guarantes Member of Canadian Tax Foundation (647) 989-1276 y) @ yangaccounting. ca HARDWOOD BY: r@huyers $5.99 so. erinstatteo Carpeting Resolution For an affordable solution to your Busine: ividual tax diffic 125 Cross Ave., Trafalgar Village Oakville | 228 King St. E., Hamilton Aflooringca Parking in Back » Peerless Make an Appointment Today for a Free Confidential Consultation insidehalton.com