Imagine walking into a busy store, restaurant, or office. Customers are lined up at the door, demand is high, and you’re told the business has had to reduce its services because it doesn’t have the resources to keep up. It sounds backwards, doesn’t it?
That’s exactly the reality facing many of our community’s social service organizations. At a time when more people than ever are turning to them for help, many are being forced to do more with less—or simply do less.
In this week’s Steve’s Reflections, I explore what happens when demand continues to grow while funding fails to keep pace. It’s not just an organizational challenge. It affects the people who rely on these services and, ultimately, the health and well-being of our entire community
Pressures on display
This issue is playing out right now, as recent funding decisions affecting organizations like Big Brothers & Big Sisters and others force difficult choices about who can be served, and who may have to wait.
As I discuss in the video, we’re seeing these pressures reflected in recent funding decisions by United Way, the City of London, other government funders, and even in the changing patterns of philanthropic giving.
The organizations affected may be the most visible part of the story, but the consequences reach much further. As donors, volunteers, voters, and engaged community members, we all have a role to play in ensuring the services our neighbours depend on remain strong, sustainable, and capable of meeting the needs of a growing community.
Editor’s note: thanks for all your support
That’s Steve’s Reflection for this week. We hope you’re finding our daily content valuable and can recommend it to your networks.
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It’s amazing that you make no mention of the fact that many policies created by the current nonprofit ecosystem have been wrongheaded. We can’t afford to continue funding policies that produce negative results for the entire city. And more importantly, we can’t afford to turn a blind eye to the culpability of those elected officials who have allowed it to happen.