Salvation Army funding to end soon

by Tom Morrison

Services at the Salvation Army Windsor Community and Rehabilitation Centre have become more effective since the City of Windsor agreed to provide funding last year, according the executive director of the shelter.

In September 2011, Windsor City Council voted in favour of providing two yearly installments of $200,000 to the Salvation Army to cover operational costs and create a re-employment service with the city’s Employment and Social Services department. Funding previously came from the city but the amount was determined by the number of individuals per night who used the facilities. The shelter would have closed in October 2011 if the council vote did not pass. The funding will last until the end of the city’s 2012 budget year in March 2013.

Don Feltham, executive director of the Windsor Salvation Army, said the shelter faced deficits which were mostly caused by low attendance in the shelter’s housing services. He said the shelter has the same expenses whether or not it reaches capacity.

“Years ago, in our hostel, we were constantly full,” said Feltham. “Now, with whatever is happening, we find that with our hostel services the numbers are down. We do have a huge building. We do have vacated rooms. If these rooms were full with men, then the income versus the expenditures would be more comparable than what they are now.”

According to the council report for this agreement, the $400,000 total came from unused 2009 employment funding from provided by the provincial government and Essex County. The funds did not come at the cost of the taxpayer. Feltham said the addition of the re-employment service created with these funds has had a positive effect on the shelter’s housing program.

“In adding a service with that of re-employment and speaking with the men about their particular needs … not only in housing but the job search and educationally, that service has, I think in over the past year, improved immensely,” Feltham said.

Diane Quinn, manager of employment and training initiatives for the social services department, said there are three components to the re-employment strategy. First, individuals from the Salvation Army are assessed to determine any barriers to re-employment, such as physical health or education. Second, individuals are shown resources like employment programs or workshops that are available to them. Finally, the individuals are referred on a case-by-case basis to the next step in the employment process, whether it’s training, assisting with health problems or immediate employment.

While the funding agreement lasts until March 2013, the program between the Salvation Army and social services will end Dec. 31. Quinn said her department will have to decide whether or not to continue this agreement based on the same factors they would with any employment contract.

“We would look at the outcomes and at that time we would make a decision based on outcomes, based on the availability of funds, based on a number of things,” said Quinn.

Staff at the shelter has been downsized to become more financially stable once funding ends, but Feltham said this has not decreased its services. He said he is hopeful the Salvation Army’s services will continue after March 2013 and is working with his staff on ways to avoid the possibility of closure again.

Coun. Fulvio Valentinis of Ward 3, where the Salvation Army is located, said council will begin budget discussions soon and will have to decide whether or not the city can continue this agreement. He said he wants the shelter to stay open next year, but this is a tough budget year and some councillors feel this should be a provincial issue.

“It’s a vital service and I would certainly hope that it could continue,” Valentinis said. “I would really hope that the upper levels of government, especially the provincial in this case, would step forward in terms of the funding because it really is a health issue.”