The Victoria non-profit group Together Against Poverty Society said yesterday it was surprised to be denied a much needed $65,000 community gaming grant, but a government spokesperson said the group's solid finances made it ineligible.
“To receive a gaming grant, a group must not have more than 50 per cent of its previous year's operating expenses on hand in the form of unrestricted cash and investments, to ensure that gaming grants are directed to organizations with the greatest financial need,” said a human and social development ministry spokesperson in an e-mail provided as background.
TAPS failed to meet the criterion and therefore was ineligible for a 2009-2010 grant, but is encouraged to reapply next year, he said.
“First of all, they didn't tell us any of that,” said Kelly Newhook, the executive director for TAPS after hearing the ministry's position. “Second, they told us the same thing last year and we reapplied and got the grant.”
The organization's fiscal year starts in August, which creates some confusion because it doesn't line up with the ministry's fiscal year, she said.
The letter the ministry sent this year did not say why the grant had been denied, she said. Knowing that the government had said it was going to focus on services to people with disabilities or low-incomes, TAPS was surprised to be denied the grant, she said.
The organization used the grant to provide a tenancy advocacy program that helps prevent homelessness, she said.
The ministry spokesperson said grants to organizations that provide services for low-income British Columbians and people with disabilities remain a priority and will be funded in 2010-2011 at levels around the same as they were in the past.
Minister Rich Coleman this week defended cuts to gaming grants saying the money was needed to fight the government's budget deficit.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Skywalker
2 years ago
What do you know?
"Minister Rich Coleman this week defended cuts to gaming grants saying the money was needed to fight the government's budget deficit." It is called the "NCHS or Bingogate method" of getting your finances in order. You know, take it out on the charities..
morechatter
2 years ago
Provinding Grants for the homeless
Or to prevent it isn't going to win any points with this government when its done everything possible to ensure its disabled are either homeless or on the brink of it as disabled are torn over what should I do with the $900 dollars I get to provide food, shelter and nutrients as it is not enough to survive. Its BC Housing and Social Services that is creating the homeless problem by ensuring no one on disablity has enough as are forced to endure inhuman treatment from office as workers turn away the hungry and dying from money allotted to them under legislation with put downs as clients told can't help you with $20 for food out of your $2000 as you need to learn how to budget.
off-the-radar
2 years ago
no blow too low
The Liberal welfare "strategy":
1. deny and delay welfare
2. have welfare too low to survive on even if you do get it
3. strip everyone's assets so when they get off welfare they never get out of poverty and have a miserable old age
4. live in the now and damn the consequences e.g. cut benefits to those on welfare like IUDs and glucose-testing and ignore the hundreds of thousands of BC kids living in poverty (going hungry too)
5. now cut grants to the very few agencies advocating for the most vulnerable citizens in British Columbia
Is this the province we want?!?