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Funding Cut

Funding to local non-profit cut

Dec 29, 2022 | 4:59 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The new year will come with a change in funding for the Association Advocating for Women and Community (AWAC), one the organization said will change their operations for men.

Several years of grant funding from the City of Prince George for storage lockers and support will come to an end December 31st. AWAC claims that change has forced the operation to close its drop-in shelter space for marginalized men in the community. The closure of that space will mean the loss of shelter, storage, and laundry services.

“It’s detrimental,” said Connie Abe, Executive Director for AWAC. “It impacts us in our ability to properly serve our community, but the impact is really on the men in our community.”

Abe said she is worried about the loss of relationships with men in the community, noting men make up most of Prince George’s unhoused population.

In a report from City of Prince George staff from November 28th, the reallocation of funding was made to “streamline” services while still providing equal access to storage lockers in one funded operation as opposed to two. The singular location will now be operated at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre.

The $138k in savings created by the move will instead be used to keep two Outreach Coordinators employed by the city. The Outreach Coordinators work with Bylaw Services, Northern Health, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and many non-profit social service providers to connect unsheltered homeless individuals to support services

Prior to the cut in funding, Abe said the progress being made with men in the community was notable, with several getting assistance on the road to success thanks to help from her staff.

CKPG News reached out to Mayor Simon Yu who was unavailable for an interview. Yu said he looks forward to meeting with Abe in the coming days to discuss this further.

In a November 28th Council meeting, the funding was discussed at length by several City Councillors including Councillor Kyle Sampson who said the positions should be provincially funded and pointed towards the province downloading more costs municipalities.