BARRHEAD - The Ripple Connection Support Centre will have to wait a little longer to learn if their request for the Town of Barrhead to waive their bi-monthly utility bill and heavily subsidize its monthly rent.
On Oct. 22, councillors opted to move the discussion on whether to accept the request to their upcoming 2025 budget deliberations, which will begin early next month.
The RCSC is a not-for-profit organization which opened in 2010; it provides services for people who directly have mental illness and brain injuries, as well as their families and caregivers.
The RCSC e-mailed the council on Oct. 15 to request that it consider waiving the utility fee, including water, sewer, and garbage pickup, and paying half its rent.
The request stems from an RCSC town council visit in April when the organization asked council for its help, but did not have a specific ask. Council asked the RCSC to comeback to a future meeting with a specific request they could consider.
RCSC board member Deb Breitkreitz stated in the e-mail that waiving the utility fees would save the organization $2,231 annually while subsidizing its rent would save another $13,200 annually.
She also noted that their building on Main Street is up for sale, and they are currently attempting to raise $53,000 for the downpayment on the mortgage.
"[This would] alleviate paying rent, ensuring operations are sustainable and even potential growth," Breitkreitz said.
In April, Breitkreitz and fellow board member Steve Bizuns told town councillors that the RCSC was struggling to stay afloat and that without help from the Barrhead municipalities, it might not survive.
They said that the centre's director stepped down to help pay for the rent, leaving the RCSC to be run by the volunteer board.
"We believe the centre provides a vital service to the community," Breitkreitz said, adding that RCSC operates on the philosophy that "everyone can reduce the stigma attached to mental health".
The pair also noted that in addition to its own programming, the most well-known and utilized being the weekday subsidized hot lunch program, the centre also works with other organizations such as Alberta Health Services (AHS).
They added that, since the centre's renovation, they have also offered space to other groups providing programming, such as self-defence, yoga, and Bible studies.
On the funding front, they noted that the centre operated mainly through funds raised through its thrift store, but it also applies for grants, hosts fundraisers and receives funding from AHS (which Breitkreitz said in her October e-mail is put towards rent) and casino funding.
"Unfortunately, that has often proven insufficient," she said.
At the same time, Breitkreitz stated in April the number of people looking to access the centre's services.
Bizuns agreed, adding that it was often hard to quantify, saying that the number of people they serve for the daily hot lunch program can vary significantly from a low of 15 to as high as 60.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
