EnVision Community Living in Steinbach is facing cuts to funding from the Department of Families.

“We’re concerned that it will have a negative impact,” says Executive Director Jeanette DeLong, “but we’re doing our best to try and negotiate something that will cover all of our costs.”

The organization has put safe practices in place and is keeping up with Manitoba Health orders however, they have been forced to close day services such as Edith’s Place, the Martha P. Rempel Centre, and their Retirement Program.

It is because of those closures that DeLong hypothesizes the government is seeking changes to funding.

“We have enough work for all our employees,” assures DeLong explaining how day services staff have been re-deployed to work at client residences.

“In order to change the funding they’ll have to come up with some kind of mechanism to calculate that, and how they set up that calculation is not necessarily something that fits for all organizations,” explains DeLong, “so the goal of government is to save money and we’re concerned that they’re saving it at the risk of cutting support to people who need it at a pretty critical time.”

EnVision currently has “about 400 front line workers” and DeLong has been impressed by their outstanding attendance in the face of so much uncertainty. “COVID comes with a lot of fears and you hear about the devastating impact it can have on some people.”

DeLong believes that with so many clients already out of their routines and dealing with added mental health stress because of physical distancing that employees are faced with providing even more support than usual.

Few services have remained unchanged including Kindale Industries which DeLong says is “operating on a small scale” however, Eastman Recycling Services work has been allowed to run at full capacity.

DeLong says the Department of Families has indicated a willingness to negotiate reasonably and so remains dedicated to the process.

“The risk is, of course, that we will have our funding cut, and that’s concerning, particularly if our expenses continue.”