Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) across Alberta will receive increased funding in October for the first time since 2009 after the Province allocated an additional $10 million to the program.
Irfan Sabir, Minister of Human Services, said the province has experienced a population growth since 2009 and the need of children and families have expanded and, he added, many Albertans rely on FCSS programs to support their well being and strengthen their community.
“These are the programs which demonstrate positive wealth that can be realized when people have access to Provincial support and get help before the crisis hits,” Sabir said. “We decided it’s time to increase these programs instead of cutting the programs like previous governments.”
In the province, 319 municipalities and Métis settlements received a 10 per cent increase to FCSS funding with $7.5 million of the boost while the additional $2.5 million distributed to communities experiencing higher population growth.
Adrienne Fedrigo, FCSS director in Crossfield, said she was a bit shocked and pleased to receive an email about the Town’s funding increasing from $56,706 to $62,377 since it has been frozen for so long.
“The increase is definitely greatly appreciated,” she said. “It’s awesome and beneficial with what the program brings to the province and the smaller and larger municipalities.”
The Town of Irricana also received a 10 per cent increase in funding from $26,523 to $29,175.
Mayor Valerie Squires said the increased funding was welcomed and could possibly be put forward to FCSS items remaining in 2015 such as the Women’s Conference, Craft Day or the Winter Festival, or it could get carried forward into next year.
“This means several community programs that offer support services can continue and possibly be expanded slightly,” Squires wrote in an email to the Rocky View Weekly.
Since FCSS funding is allocated based on population, the 10 per cent increase in Beiseker’s FCSS funding wasn’t significant. Total FCSS funding for Beiseker will now be $21,100, but chief administrative officer Jo Lambert said any increase makes it easier for the FCSS board to give grant money to those who apply for it.
“(The increase) could be one more not-for-profit group that could get some money,” she said.
Rocky View County (RVC) had its funding increased from $679,282 to $747,210, but with the initiatives and budgets set for 2015, Grant Kaiser, spokesperson for RVC, said the additional funding will instead allow the County to look towards improving or creating new initiatives in 2016.
The increased FCSS funding brings the program total to $86 million and will be distributed to municipalities with the regular October grants, Sabir said, and will be made retroactive up to April 1, 2015.
