Women’s social aid centres shut doors

Closures could be permanent if funding efforts fail

Funding shortfalls have forced the Women in Need Society to shut down its four resource centres and lay off 10 staffers.

Tough economic times led to the closures Friday that could be permanent if $500,000 isn’t raised in the next month, said society executive director Karen Ramchuk.

The loss of programming for underprivileged women and their families is already being felt, with the layoff comprising 10 per cent of staff, she said.

“Clients are upset, they’re not very happy,” said Ramchuk.

“But we’ve made layoffs at the management level so we could preserve our front-line workers.”

She spoke about one woman too afraid to leave an abusive relationship who had been able to take part in a weekly women’s counselling group that’s now been disbanded.

“She’s quite devastated that the women’s group won’t be there now — it was her one escape,” she said.

Since the city ’s economic downturn began in late 2014, the society’s client load has increased by 70 per cent, but revenues from its stores in Calgary Housing Company complexes have faltered, leading to the funding squeeze, said Ramchuk.

The society’s stores offering gently-used clothing, furniture and household goods remain open “and are still profitable,” while vouchers for those who can’t afford to make purchases at them are still available, she said.

The society has stepped up its fundraising efforts, which include about 10 public events in conjunction with other organizations over the next month.

“We’re working super hard in the background, reaching out to influential people to help us,” said Ramchuk.

So far, the group has raised just over $28,000.

For now, other social agencies will use the society ’s resource centre space on a limited basis.

She said between 6,000 and 7,000 women are helped toward self-sustainability each year by her agency’s programs and community groups.

The closures, which for now are scheduled to run until the end of April, could become permanent if the fundraising campaign doesn’t succeed.