UAF provides essential services despite funding difficulties

Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter

The Ormstown-based community organization Une Affaire de Famille has been a key player in keeping the Haut-Saint-Laurent’s social fabric tightly woven for over 30 years. The forward-looking organization, which runs several essential programs, is currently facing a difficult outlook as government grants and municipal support have run dry.

“Luckily, some municipalities have pulled out all the stops to support us as best they can,” says Une Affaire de Famille director Gabrielle Limoges, who suggests many within the region recognize the value of the organization’s work. 

 “Our mission is broad,” she admits. “The advantage is that it allows us to really meet the needs of every member of the family, but that requires a variety of programs and a large team,” she explains, noting the organization currently has 16 full-time employees on staff who travel throughout the Haut-Saint-Laurent to run various programs.

The organization runs several family-oriented workshops and support programs for parents of babies and young children, as well as parent-child initiatives, and two reservation-based daycare services in Ormstown and Saint-Anicet. A youth team coordinates events and activities targeted at young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 years old. Finally, a seniors team organizes activities for those above the age of 50. The programs are all aimed at specific age groups, but UAF activities always work across generations.

“Everyone is always welcome,” says Limoges. “Our goal is to create a social network around each individual in our community,” she explains, suggesting her teams work to break down commonly held perceptions that community organizations are only for people with big problems or financial difficulties. “That’s not the case here,” she says, while acknowledging that they ensure all programs are accessible to vulnerable clients. “It is open to everyone, and we sincerely believe this is what makes our organization so rich, because we bring people with many different backgrounds together.”

Challenging times

Most of the programs run by UAF are funded by external grants or programs. The core operational budget hovers around $176,000, which Limoges says is clearly not enough to pay her staff. Most of her employees have been with the organization for over ten years. “They are trained and qualified, so we try to offer competitive salaries,” she explains, insisting that while community work pays less than other fields, she strives to set an example.

“One of our strengths is really a sense of belonging,” Limoges says, noting team members are often offered jobs in schools and health care settings. “We stick together, we have fun, and we help each other. It is worth a lot in terms of quality of life, but it comes with a cost,” she laments.

Limoges estimates she has completed at least 38 funding applications for one-off projects this year alone to keep her programs running. Current economic uncertainty, paired with the recent federal election and upcoming municipal elections, has meant fewer grants were available this year. “We are dependent on all of these,” she says, noting the situation is beyond her control. “Right now, our reality is that we have a deficit of $65,000,” she states, saying the grants are not coming in, and they have lost significant financial support from the municipality in which they are located.

The shortfall has meant at least one position will not be renewed next year, and a vacant post will not be filled. “We are used to scraping the bottom of the barrel,” says Limoges, who shares that the organization is currently keeping programs alive by shifting funds from management budgets that would normally pay for insurance, professional fees, and utilities.

“There is a limit to what we can do,” she says. “It is not easy, and it makes everyone feel insecure.” She says she wants to be transparent about the situation but does not want employees or clients to worry that programs may be discontinued.

UAF traditionally pauses its operations over the summer, with activities scheduled to end this year around June 15. Limoges says she and the management team are working to ensure their staff can enjoy the break knowing their position is secure come September.

In the meantime, Une Affaire de Famille is hoping to raise $20,000 in the short term. Two fundraising events are scheduled for June 7, including a day of music at Gigzz Musique-Resto in Ormstown featuring local musicians Pierre Lachance and Guy David, Dave Hills and Bob Davis, Dan McKell, and Barkhouse. UAF will also be present during the community garage sales at the ecocentre in Sainte-Barbe, where they will be selling hotdogs, beverages, and snacks to help ensure their important work continues this fall.

Donations can also be made directly to the organization online at uneaffairedefamillehsl.com. 

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