Sudbury's Community Living organization is running out of money. A news release from Community Living Sudbury, which supports people with intellectual disabilities, said the organization is "facing serious financial pressures."
Sherry Salo, the executive director for the Sudbury organization, said one of the key issues is that there’s no budget for any capital spending, which is usually for higher priced expenses.
"Right now, I have no budget for capital costs", said Salo.
"So, if a roof were to cave in at one of our facilities, I wouldn't have the money to fix it."
The funding issues have also led to the inability to recruit support workers, putting a huge strain on the system and on families who are struggling to cope, said the release.
The issue is province wide according to a news release from Community Living Ontario and the 117 member agencies, said a statement from the provincial organization.
Community Living Ontario said it is "facing a critical funding shortfall leading to a reduction of services for people with intellectual disabilities, closure of day supports and severe staffing issues because they can’t pay workers as much as other educational and health workers."
The provincial organization has launched a special campaign aimed at urging the Ontario government to step up with a five per cent boost in core funding as well as a corresponding five per cent increase in Passport Program Funding and Special Services at Home (SSAH), said the Ontario group. The Ontario call to action includes having citizens write letters and meeting with their local MPPs alerting them to the dire situation facing Ontarians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ontario Community Living CEO Chris Beesley said it has been decades since the group received any sort of an adequate funding increase.
“We have not benefited from a significant cost of living increase in thirty years,” said Beesley.
“Now with soaring inflation, the system is no longer sustainable.”
Sudbury Community Living (SCL) said the Ontario Government has responded to concerns by saying the sector is covered and points to increases in ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program), Ontario Passport Program Funding and wage enhancement. But it's the base funding that hasn't significantly increased causing the financial crisis, said the SCL release.
Another concern said SCL is that the Ontario government spends proportionately less on developmental services than many other major jurisdictions in North America.
Sudbury and other community living groups across the province are lagging behind other provinces in the support of people living with intellectual disabilities, said the release.
