Sask. community-based organizations seek increased funding from provincial government

CBO workers care for people living with disabilities, respond to domestic violence calls, engage in suicide intervention, and more.

A number of community-based organization (CBO) workers gathered at the Saskatchewan legislature Monday to call on Gene Makowsky and the ministry of social services to step up and provide multiyear funding.

CBO workers care for people living with disabilities, respond to domestic violence calls, engage in suicide intervention and more.

In a release from CBOs represented by CUPE, SEIU-west and SGEU, they say the government has provided inconsistent and unreliable funding for over a decade.

“After decades of underfunding, it’s past time for our government to step up,” Judy Henley, the president of CUPE Saskatchewan said. “Saskatchewan CBOs have long been lobbying for stability only to be let down by this government at every turn.”

“It’s time for Minister Makowsky to get his head in the game and provide stable, multi-year funding for our CBO sector.”

For those in the industry, they say increased funding will help with staff retention and hiring new personnel.

“Extra funding would allow us to hire more staff for one,” Jackie Watson with Wakamow Social Detox said. “Right now, our staff to client ratio — we are 22 beds, and we only have two staff on each shift.”

“With a better wage, we can offer staff retention. Lots of our employees have two to three jobs and I’m no different. Under $20 an hour is not sustainable anymore.”