The Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy has suspended services and let go of one staff member following the discovery of a possible misappropriation of funds.
The societyB次元官网网址檚 warming centre B次元官网网址� NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 only warming centre B次元官网网址� and womenB次元官网网址檚 shelter and other services closed over the weekend and its 10 paid staff members have been laid off.
B次元官网网址淲e are deeply saddened by the turn of events which have led to the current suspension of services at SEIA,B次元官网网址� the board of directors said in a written statement issued Wednesday, Dec. 8. B次元官网网址淲e are investigating a possible misappropriation of SEIA funds and we have identified an individual we believe is responsible. The person is no longer active in the organization and the RCMP are involved. While we are confident that our actions to date will prevent any future loss to the SEIA, this situation has caused the SEIA to be in financial difficulty and the current closure of our offices.B次元官网网址�
The society formed in 2019 when the Nanaimo WomenB次元官网网址檚 Resource Society and Nanaimo Citizens Advocacy amalgamated and moved to offices on Wallace Street. The non-profit provides services that include general and legal advocacy, essential household goods and starter kits for people setting up new homes, tenancy support for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless, a womenB次元官网网址檚 drop-in centre, a basic needs program that provides clothes, diapers, school supplies, personal care items and information to connect clients with community resources, a womenB次元官网网址檚 shelter, a cold-weather warming centre, and youth entrepreneurship and clothing donation programs. The society serves about 200 clients a month.
Charles Nelson, society executive director, and the Nanaimo RCMP confirmed the boardB次元官网网址檚 statement about the societyB次元官网网址檚 current financial situation and the police investigation.
B次元官网网址淵es, we were contacted and we have launched a criminal investigation,B次元官网网址� said Const. Gary OB次元官网网址橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, adding that the detachment could not offer further comment.
Neither the RCMP nor Nelson confirmed how much money went missing and Nelson did not say how long the money would have supported SEIA operations.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not doing good, in so much that weB次元官网网址檝e had to lay off all staff,B次元官网网址� Nelson said. B次元官网网址淪o, thatB次元官网网址檚 significant and what a time to do that, just before Christmas.B次元官网网址�
Erica Steinhauer, womenB次元官网网址檚 centre staff member, said several volunteers were continuing to come in to help keep whatever services possible running.
B次元官网网址淲e have a couple more people coming in too that said that theyB次元官网网址檒l volunteer and one of our previous workers is now doing outreach in the mornings, bringing left-over lunches,B次元官网网址� Steinhauer said.
Nelson said SEIA appreciates staff and volunteers continuing to support the office on a volunteer basis to meet commitments theyB次元官网网址檝e made with their clients.
B次元官网网址淲hat I could say is that weB次元官网网址檙e B次元官网网址� doing our best to reopen the doors in an official capacity as quickly as [the board] can because theyB次元官网网址檙e concerned about the community [members] that are affected and theyB次元官网网址檙e worried about staff and the volunteers that support this organization,B次元官网网址� Nelson said.
The SEIA boardB次元官网网址檚 statement noted the society is B次元官网网址渨orking with other community organizations to fill gaps in services and to redirect in-kind donations to ensure our clients have adequate clothing, blankets and supplies.B次元官网网址�
Nelson said the SEIA came together just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and it hadnB次元官网网址檛 had the chance to fully communicate with the community about what it does, but its employees and volunteers have come to B次元官网网址渟ee each other much like family.B次元官网网址� He said SEIAB次元官网网址檚 work in the community is important as the agency is usually a last resort for people whoB次元官网网址檝e been turned away elsewhere.
B次元官网网址淸This situation] has profoundly affected people emotionally. ItB次元官网网址檚 profoundly affected people financially and itB次元官网网址檚 both extremely sad and extremely angering at the same time and those are the emotions that have been expressed, definitely,B次元官网网址� Nelson said. B次元官网网址淎t this time I think that providing the support that is needed to help move things forward, the best way we can, is important and I know that IB次元官网网址檓 trying to do that, I know staff are trying to do that, I know the board is trying to do that and our hopes are to continue to do that.B次元官网网址�
People wishing to make donations can do so to support the SEIAB次元官网网址檚 general operations or target them to specific programs via Paypal, cheque or e-transfer to ed@seia.ca or through Canada Helps .
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