Upset over drastic cuts to CLH Developmental Support Services will soon be cutting 32 employees, staff and other concerned residents are being asked to attend a rally next week to voice their concerns.
And since Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop now operates her constituency office out of the Midland Public Library, the rally will be held outside the library, beginning at noon Wednesday.
Nicole Wood, who works for CLH, says the organization needs the community to step up and support the cause.
“Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your neighbours,” Wood said. “Last week, my employer announced that four programs at my workplace would be closed. The DS (developmental service) sector is severely underfunded.”
Wood said they’re hoping Dunlop will be available to hear their concerns.
“Remind them that your vote in future elections depends on their support,” she said. “People with disabilities need and deserve homes and programs to serve them."
Wood said that this the largest layoff in the organization’s history as well as one of the largest in the DS sector.
“Layoffs will put increased pressure on community services (food bank, mental health services, social services),” Wood said. “Individuals who are supported in the programs that are being closed do not currently have placements and are at risk for homelessness.”
During a recent interview, CLH DSS CEO Dean Johnson confirmed to MidlandToday that after numerous requests for financial support from the province, layoffs were the only option for the agency that helps some of society's most vulnerable.
While the staffing cuts take effect July 26, funding shortfalls also mean one resident of Beacon House dual diagnosis transition rehabilitation housing program and two individuals at the Pineview dual diagnosis specialized treatment home, located in Penetanguishene, will be displaced
“I know those numbers sound low,” said Johnson, “but these are people that are not going to now have the opportunity to transition successfully into the community because of the void in their treatment.”
The cuts follow years of reductions by CLH DSS to mitigate the lack of funding.
Although CLH has an annual operating budget of $26 million with 350 on staff, CLH DSS cut $1 million over the past two years in cost-containment initiatives in an attempt to continue operations; Johnson noted that Beacon had been run at a deficit for years as the program cost $850,000 to operate in 2023.
A letter from Johnson to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services in April warned: “There are presently no remaining cost saving measures that can be undertaken except to reduce service and layoff staff.”
But Johnson said the ministry did nothing.
"I even offered them a short-term solution,” stated Johnson. “I said: ‘provide us with $250,000 for three months of interim funding to give you the time to figure this out.’ And they couldn't do that.
“As prepared as I was for this, I'm shocked that this actually is happening,” Johnson admitted.
He says his repeated attempts to work with the province fell on deaf ears as CLH DSS and similar organizations across the province have been “starved of the resources we need, just to keep the heating (and) lights on."
Dunlop, meanwhile, said the government is investing $3.4 billion for developmental services and of that investment $2.2 billion funds supportive living services and supports, an increase of over $750 million from 2017-18.
"Ministry officials are working with CLH to identify their service pressures and strategies to manage them," she wrote in an email.
"We share a common vision with people with developmental disabilities, families, and our sector, a vision where people with developmental disabilities are better supported to fully belong in their communities. I understand that Community Living Huronia– Developmental Support Services is connecting with the families impacted by this service change to plan for potential alternative supports knowing agencies make their own decisions on program delivery."
