Charities are facing a crunch, and government help is far from certain

National Post, 03 April 2020

The deadly coronavirus will be with us for some time. We need healthy charities to fight it

The charitable sector has been doubly stretched during this pandemic. Most commercial businesses are suffering from a great reduction in sales, even if they are open. A great many are closed and so have little or no revenues. No sales, no work — so staff are laid off. Hence the government wage subsidy plan to keep the paycheques flowing.

For many charities, though, demand for their service has increased, due to the economic and social pain that has accompanied this health crisis. Food banks, homeless services, meal delivery to the disabled, practical aid for seniors, women’s shelters, mental health phone lines, poverty relief of all kinds — demand is up, up, up. But revenues and staffing levels are down.

Revenues have taken a hit because all fundraising that involves getting together has stopped — dinners, donor meetings, raffle ticket sales, the lot. And fundraisers who are trying to raise money online or through direct mail are encountering donors who themselves are in precarious circumstances.

Charities are also suffering from a decrease in staff. Some have to stay home to look after children who are no longer in school. Others are isolating to protect the vulnerable.

So demand is up precisely when resources are low. Is there a government policy response that would help?

Continue reading at the National Post:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/raymond-j-de-souza-on-covid-19-charities-are-facing-a-crunch-and-government-help-is-far-from-certain?video_autoplay=true