The funding for the Kenora Fellowship Centre has not been cut, but has merely run the course of its contract according to Alex Faulds of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The July/August issue of the Record reported that the centre is facing a funding crisis, after the approximately $125,000 yearly federal government grant was lost.
Kenora recently secured a new one-time $25,000 grant from HRSDC under the government's homelessness initiative. The money will help keep the winter shelter running for another year. HRSDC previously provided funding through its job creation partnership program. The three-year contract, which is used to help fund new initiatives rather than provide core funding, ran out in April. Faulds said the $25,000 grant acknowledges the good work the centre is doing.
Bob Wyber, Kenora's board chairman, is grateful for the funding extension. "They have extended themselves very generously beyond their traditional mandate," he said. "We're very fortunate."
Henry Hildebrandt, director of the centre, said the new funding will enable them to operate the winter shelter this year, but long-term funding is still needed. They are currently working on another proposal to secure such funding. "We're always squeaking by," he said. "Even if we were to only carry on with our regular programs [not including the winter shelter] we'd have a shortfall." – AM
