Cut to city community grants program ‘dangerous,’ Winnipeg non-profits say

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Peggy

Community groups in Winnipeg warn a planned cut to city grants could put programs for inner-city youth at risk.

The city currently divides $3.4 million among a variety of groups through its annual community grant program. In the recently adopted four-year budget, that amount drops to $1.3 million annually starting next year.

Groups that had their grants approved through the annual budget will now have to apply to a new program. Any money they receive through the grant program must be tied to a specific project and cannot be used for core funding.

A report recommending the changes was approved unanimously by council’s executive policy committee on Tuesday.

Spence Neighbourhood Association executive director Michele Wikkerink spoke as a delegate before the vote. She told Mayor Scott Gillingham’s inner circle the money the city gives them funds programming that keeps youth occupied and out of trouble.

“Many other groups in the city that are doing this kind of work are actively preventing crime. To ask us to continue doing that with half the money and no plan is criminal,” she told reporters.

At the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre on Tuesday afternoon, Samantha Harrison was busy prepping for a rush of kids getting out of school. She and other staff prepare up to 200 meals every day at the inner-city centre.

“Food insecurity is a huge issue in our city and all across Canada,” she said.

“It’s super important to provide programs for people who are facing that.”

The Spence Neighbourhood Association offers a meal program, funded through part of a $60,000 grant it receives from the city.

That is one of dozens of grants that could be impacted if the city moves ahead with the proposed changes.

Other groups that have received funding through the community grant program include the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, Resource Assistance for Youth, the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, End Homelessness Winnipeg, Graffiti Art Programming and Take Pride Winnipeg.

Funding uncertainty ‘dangerous’

Art City executive director Eddie Ayoub says the funding from the city provides stability for community organizations.

“It’s dangerous, frankly, to take away all these resources from the people who need it the most,” he said.

Coun. Evan Duncan, who chairs city council’s community services committee, says the city needs to control costs and the province should pick up the tab.

“There’s no question that these organizations are doing great work, but there needs to be other stakeholders who come in and take on some of that responsibility,” he said.

Gillingham told reporters the changes are being made to give city staff the ability to review grant applications and approve those that best align with its guiding documents, such as the strategic priorities action plan adopted by council.

It also gives other groups that have not received city funding a chance to apply, he said.

“We’re looking at the difficult decisions we have to make with the limited, with an ever-increasing demand on city resources. We have to make difficult decisions,” he said.

A financial update report the city released earlier this month projected an operating budget deficit of nearly $40 million.

City council will cast a final vote on the proposed changes to the grant program at its meeting next week.