Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 25, 2008
YELLOWKNIFE - Sandy Lee, minister of Health and Social Services, says she is still confident that money will be found to keep Alison McAteer House open.
Health Minister Lee |
The YWCA-run women's shelter has faced financial problems since the organization increased salaries last fall in order to retain workers. The YWCA is facing a deficit of roughly $40,000 because of the wage increase.
Lee had previously pledged that money to keep the shelter open and running would be found.
"We are looking to find money for that," said Lee. "We have until the end of March to do that and I feel confident that we could come up with money internally to work that out.
"All the funding has to come from Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and they are working together to come up with that funding."
Before Tuesday's announcement by Premier Floyd Roland regarding a $135 million dollar cut to the territorial budget, Lee said, "We are looking at a financial picture where we have to engage in some financial restrains, so we'll have to address that in that context."
Afterwards her office confirmed she was aware of the cuts prior to the interview.
According to Lee, the Department of Health and Social Services funds about $580,000 for the Alison McAteer shelter per year and extra money has, at times, been granted.
"I also have to be aware that we have other shelters in the city and the territory," said Lee. She said all of the shelters are facing financial issues and the focus needs to be on a long-term solution. Lee said her goal is to stabilize funding for all the NWT's shelters.
Lee said a plan to provide funding and resources for the territory's shelters will be in the upcoming budget.
Meanwhile, the YWCA is eyeing the $1.5 million in funding that has been given to help the YWCA in the three Northern territories through YWCA Canada and the Status of Women Canada.
According to Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA, it is not yet clear if the money will be able to help existing YWCA programs in crisis, specifically the women's shelter, because the funding is geared towards creating new projects, not existing ones.
The critical thing, said Fuller, will be finding matching funds to be able to access the $1.5 million.
"You need matching money to draw down any of the $1.5 million because it is a partnership agreement. So we have to find the matching money," said Fuller.
A working group is developing a plan for the funding. The deadline for the plan is February, but they hope to have it completed before that date and before the federal minister is expected to make an announcement.
"That's why we're working on a work plan because we have to figure out and talk to the federal government, talk to the Status of Women Canada people about what's eligible for use out of this money and what's not," said Fuller.
"You wouldn't want to think you could have all these services and find out those aren't eligible for (funding)."
