Yukon non-profits hunt for funding as fiscal year ends

[Guest guest]

Yukon non-profits hunt for funding as fiscal year ends

Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2007 | 1:45 PM CT

Yukon's non-profit organizations grow frustrated each March when their annual funding runs out and they scramble to determine what money, if any, they'll receive from federal and territorial governments in the coming year.

Friday marks the last day of the fiscal year, meaning dozens of groups are waiting to find out if and when they will receive more funding so they can keep working.

The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon, which provides one-on-one counselling and other services to about 30 clients with the syndrome, has already warned its staff of possible layoffs as it waits to see if $200,000 in funding will arrive.

"It's a big waste of time, because the bottom line is, almost always some type of funding comes though," executive director Judy Pakozdy said.

"But in the meantime we've written proposals to God only knows who, trying to get bridging funding, trying to get additional funding. We've frightened off a lot of our staff, and it takes a long time to get the skills and knowledge base that you need to work with people with FAS."

The Blood Ties Four Directions Centre, a support agency for people with HIV and hepatitis C, is also waiting on about $167,000 from the territorial government. But the problem, executive director Bacon said, is that no one knows when the Yukon legislature will resume sitting in order to pass the money.

"Picture in your mind a big question mark, and that's the feeling right there," Bacon said.

"It would be nice if the government could at least say 'OK, no, we're not sitting today, we intend to sit in two weeks or we intend to sit tomorrow' … that sort of thing would be reassuring."

Both Bacon and Pakozdy said they expect their groups will eventually get the money they need to continue, but every year, governments leave such decisions to the last minute.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/03/30/yk-ngo.html?ref=rss