Cambridge Now!

Local Non Profits Feeling The Strains of Increased Demand

Social Planning Council Report Paints Troubling Picture

Feeling The Strain Of Growing Demand

The Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries has released its findings of a recent study on the financial strains experienced by nonprofits in Cambridge and North Dumfries in a report entitled “Responding to the Economic Downturn”. This report is part of a larger study being conducted over the next two years by the Social Planning Network of Ontario which will track the impact of the economic downturn as it relates to the nonprofit sector in Ontario.

“All sectors have been hit hard” says Linda Terry, Executive Director of the Social Planning Council CND,“and the resulting impact has seen a significant increase in families and individuals seeking assistance for food, shelter, and counseling and employment services in our community”.

 When asked about changes in service demand experienced by agencies since September 2008, 68% of respondents reported seeing an increase in service demand. Further, 76% reported that the impact is being felt already. These effects include such impacts as increased caseloads, more hours worked without additional staff; increased stress on staff and organization; an inability to provide clients with the holistic support they need; increased human resource costs; volunteer burnout; increased wait times; increased reliance on fee-for-service work; and increased human resource investments in securing additional funding sources. No agency reported having received additional funding to meet this increased demand.

“Financial sustainability has long been of issue within the nonprofit sector” states Terry, “but in today’s economic climate it is creating a volatile situation. Although funding organizations are seeking creative alternatives in the wake of shortfalls it may be too late for some nonprofits. Working collaboratively to find new ways to produce revenue and generate income will need to be put in place.”

The study also found that many people seeking help are doing so for the first time in their lives, and are finding it very difficult due to feelings of guilt and shame, having found themselves in such a position. Terry offers “that if ever there was a time to offer support and donate generously, now is that time”.

For a copy of the full report visit www.socialplanningcouncil-cnd.org