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On the Front Lines of Toronto's Community Service and Immigrant and Refugee-Serving Sectors
"The non-profit community service sector is like the elephant in the room. It's a sector that everyone relies on, that is huge in comparison to the economy and that has been punching above its weight for more than a decade. Yet, the woefully inadequate level of funding does not recognize the sector's critical role in our economic and social well-being," says Laurel Rothman, Director of Social Reform at Family Service Toronto.
"Agencies are struggling now in our booming economic times. If we continue along this path of chronic underfunding and hit a downturn in the economy, community needs will escalate. Yet the sector will not be in a strong position to respond. Inevitably there will be serious consequences for the safety and well-being of many people."
On July 17, 2006 Family Service Toronto and The Community Social Planning Council of Toronto released On the Front Lines of Toronto's Community Service Sector and On the Front Lines of Toronto's Immigrant-and Refugee-Serving Sector reports.
Backgrounder
Highlights from the two reports:
There are approximately 1,342 community-based human services agencies in Toronto, excluding those providing arts and culture, recreation and child care services. Government funding accounts for 72% of the community service sector's revenue.
Focus groups and a survey of 59 front-line and managerial staff from Toronto's community service sector found that:
- Government underfunding is leading to deteriorating working conditions which put the quality and availability of community services at risk;
- Funding cuts have led to sector stress and fierce competition for remaining funding sources;
- The shift from "core funding" to short term "project funding" has led to stress for workers in precarious jobs, inconsistent salaries across the sector, and instability of services for clients;
- Wage rates have not kept up with inflation. Low wages and lack of benefits contribute to deteriorating working conditions;
- Agencies are finding it difficult to attract/retain experienced staff. Staff turnover affects the quality of services;
Surveys of 321 staff in 61 Toronto agencies which serve immigrants and refugees found that:
- 27% of the agencies rely on unstable "project funding" as their main source of income;
- 69% of participants earned less than $40,000/year. Almost 55% worked overtime, but 30% of those workers received no overtime pay, or time in lieu;
- 24% of participants were on temporary contracts. 21% were working more than one job.
80% of participants reported being satisfied with their jobs, but 44% had considered leaving during past year. The most common reason (74%) was low wages.
Read press release or download: On the Front lines of Toronto's Community Services Sector, and On the Front Lines of Toronto's Immigrant-and Refugee-Serving Sector (PDF files, Adobe Acrobat required)
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