Services for at-risk youth in Edmonton are in danger of being cut due to a lack of funding.
Youth Empowerment and Support Services, an organization that offers programs that helps keep young people off the street, says it’s struggling due to a shortage of donations.
YESS says the majority of its budget is raised through fundraisers and low fundraising numbers has the non-profit looking at cut backs.
“We’ve been low for the last three years. It’s sort of caching up with us,” said Sue Keating, associate executive director with YESS.
“We’re just at the point where we can’t do it anymore. Last year when we fell short we had some positions that disappeared and again this year we’re looking at (it). We can’t stretch our staff any further. Unfortunately we’re looking at decreasing some services.”
Keating says YESS only has about 28 per cent of assured funding. The rest of the budget has to be raised through donations and fundraisers.
The organization has met about 62 per cent of its current fundraising goal and if numbers don’t pick up, layoffs and shortened hours of services may result, which Keating says could mean bad news for young people in the city.
“Right now, even for kids who are quite street-entrenched we can keep them save and doing something productive 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so that’s what may change. If we have to cut back some hours, there will be some hours where there is no safety net for our kids,” Keating said.
“It is a huge concern. Our staff don’t work here because it’s a job. It’s a relentless commitment to working with these kids so this isn’t a step that we take easily.”
YESS has recently even had to turn away youth.
"We have nights where we’re turning kids away simply because we don’t have the capacity in terms of beds and staff to meet the need that’s on the streets in our community. To cut back even further, it’s a bit of a heartbreaker,” Keating said.
YESS’ current fundraising campaign runs until Jan. 17.
Click here to find out more information on how you can donate.
Youth Empowerment and Support Services, formerly known as the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, has been operating in Edmonton for 30 years and offers shelter and support services for young people in need.
