The administration of Centre 507 will be discussing plans for a new fundraising strategy next week to compensate for a recent decrease in donations around Christmas, according to board member Matthew Bonsall.
The fundraising committee has enlisted the help of a professional fundraiser to craft a strategy that could include making investments, hiring new staff, or targeting businesses and individuals.
If the executive committee approves the new approach to fundraising, the strategy will be presented to the board of directors on Jan. 26.
Centre 507, a drop-in centre for those living both on the streets and in sub-par housing, runs out of the United Church on the corner of Argyle and Bank streets. It is funded by the City of Ottawa, the United Church, and both provincial and federal governments.
The drop-in centre serves between 100 and 120 people each day, says Susan Alcott, one of the centre’s support workers. The majority of the centre’s resources come from donations at Christmas.
But the centre hasn’t been receiving as much as it used to, says Alcott. Fewer donations means there’s a shortage of items such as hygiene products, winter clothing and sleeping bags to distribute.
In past years, there have been enough hygiene products donated at Christmas to fill 130 stockings for the centre's annual luncheon and still keep the centre stocked for six months, says Caroline Anne Giekes, the centre's manager.
This year, around 115 stockings were given out but she says she doesn’t think the supplies will last through the end of February.
“Just the fact that we can’t give as much is the main effect,” says Alcott.
The recession is a major factor.People who have donated to agencies like Centre 507 in the past may not be able to do so now, says Alcott.
And many donations come from church groups. But since many churches are seeing smaller congregations, they aren’t able to give as much, she says.
Bonsall says he hopes the new strategy will be in place before next Christmas.
Jimmy-Dean Newcombe says people are more generous to panhandlers during the holidays. Newcombe has been living off and on the streets for years. He is currently homeless and uses Centre 507’s services.
“People are very willing to stop and go in their pockets even though it’s cold," says Newcombe. "As soon as New Year’s is over, you can’t even get people’s attention.”
In the days leading up to Christmas, panhandlers can make as much as 80 dollars per hour, says Newcombe. But now he is lucky if he makes 40 dollars in a day, he says.