PEERS Victoria is fighting hard to keep its doors open to some of the Capital RegionB次元官网网址檚 most vulnerable people.
In the past three years, the non-profit organization, which helps more than 500 sex workers each year, has seen its monthly provincial funding shrivel from $32,000 to $6,000.
B次元官网网址淥ur bare-bones budget is $16,000 a month, but weB次元官网网址檙e continuing to operate on our $6,000 funding because we believe there will be a way to get through this,B次元官网网址� said PEERS executive director Marion Little.
The funding shortage is a result of the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 shift in April from annual grants to a fee-for-service system, where non-profits must apply for individual program grants and register their users in an integrated system.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not willing to hustle our clients. People can come through our door and receive unconditional welcome,B次元官网网址� Little said. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 need to give us their name or social insurance number and can get a hot meal, see a doctor, shower and get clean clothes.B次元官网网址�
Historically, PEERS has employed former sex workers to mentor new users. But with a reduction in staff hours, that mentorship model has been postponed due to a lack of supervision, Little said.
B次元官网网址淲e work with street-involved people, as well as those who are working at escort agencies, ensuring they have access to medical care and can ask the questions they need to ask.B次元官网网址�
The organization delivers programs ranging from computer literacy courses to abuse and trauma workshops.
Little spoke at the Esquimalt council meeting Monday. She pleaded with councillors to include PEERS in its annual list of permissive tax exemptions, after the non-profit inadvertently missed the application deadline.
B次元官网网址淎 tax exemption is about $10,000 a year to us. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a big deal,B次元官网网址� she said.
Council was sympathetic to Little, who explained 60 to 70 per cent of PEERS users live in Esquimalt, while the majority of other users live along the townshipB次元官网网址檚 boundaries.
Councillors Dave Hodgins and Tim Morrison opposed the inclusion of PEERS in tax exemptions, reasoning that council needs to take a stand against the downloading of costs from higher levels of government. B次元官网网址淭he more we step in to fill that void, the more downloading will occur,B次元官网网址� Hodgins told council.
While Mayor Barb Desjardins agreed that cost downloading is a problem, she said the one-year tax exemption will give PEERS a chance to source out new funding. B次元官网网址淭his is a group that are situated in Esquimalt, and they are a group that are going to come out and participate at the Celebration of Lights and are involved in other events,B次元官网网址� she said.
Council approved permissive tax exemptions for 14 organizations worth nearly $78,000 at a time when it desperately needs to balance its budget.
Coun. Meagan Brame indicated council will need to reduce the number of tax exemptions it doles out for next yearB次元官网网址檚 budget to help share anticipated costs, including the expected $200 to $300 per household hit for the Capital Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 $782-million secondary sewage treatment project.
dpalmer@vicnews.com
