A Strathmore organization that provides emergency shelter and support services for individuals experiencing domestic violence is preparing for the impact of a provincial funding reduction as Alberta implements a new funding model for family violence shelters.
True North, which serves Strathmore and surrounding communities, is expected to receive approximately $70,000 less in annual provincial funding under Alberta's newly announced Emergency Family Violence Services program.
The Ministry of Children and Family Services announced in May that it will invest nearly $62 million in family violence services across Alberta. The funding changes are the result of the province's Women's Shelter Renewal Project, which reviewed how shelter funding is distributed throughout Alberta.
While the province says overall sector funding is increasing, some rural shelters are expected to receive less funding under the new model.
True North Executive Director Courtney Helfrich said the change is not a reflection of the work being done by local organizations, but rather the result of a revised funding formula.
"This is a sort of reset of the funding model for family violence shelters," Helfrich said in public comments following the announcement.
According to the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS), nearly $1 million has been redistributed away from several rural shelters across the province despite an increase in total provincial funding for the sector.
The organization argues that the reductions will have a greater impact on smaller communities where alternative support services may be limited compared with larger urban centres.
For now, Helfrich says True North remains focused on maintaining essential services while evaluating how the funding reduction may affect future operations.
"The board of directors and I will carefully review our organizational capacity, our programs and service delivery to mitigate the impact of this funding change," she said.
Despite the anticipated funding loss, True North plans to continue work on its transitional housing initiative, a project intended to support individuals and families as they move from emergency shelter into longer-term housing.
The Alberta Council of Women's Shelters has launched a public advocacy campaign calling on the provincial government to delay implementation of the new funding model until the next fiscal year. The organization is also asking the province to publicly release additional details explaining how funding allocations were determined.
The issue highlights the ongoing challenge faced by many community organizations balancing increasing demand for services against rising operating costs.
For communities such as Strathmore, Chestermere, Wheatland County, and Rocky View County, organizations like True North often serve as critical resources for individuals and families seeking safety, shelter, and support during difficult circumstances.
The provincial government has not indicated whether it plans to delay implementation of the new funding model.