Cowichan Family Life Association, which was founded in 1970, is at least temporarily closing its doors at the end of July due to a substantial financial shortfall.
The CFLA has been part of the fabric of the Cowichan Valley since its founding, providing low to no cost counselling services and other programs, including volunteer counsellor training.
A press release from the CFLA said, as with all non-profit groups, the ability to operate is dependent on grants, donations, and fundraising, and really tight budget belts.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly in 2024, financial stability has been especially challenging. Recently, CFLA learned they were unsuccessful in securing funds from the United Way for youth (age to 29) mental health programs and support. This was the latest in a string of unsuccessful applications over the past six months that were in excess of $170,000, which has left the agency with a financial shortfall they are currently unable to overcome.
Apart from the annual BC Gaming Grant, CFLA doesn’t receive funding from any government agency.
While there are some funding applications in the works, the current situation is such that the board has made the hard decision to close the offices of CFLA effective July 31, 2024, and temporarily suspend the affordable counselling program, including intakes and counselling, the group said in a press release.
Ron Jorgenson, the counselling program’s clinical supervisor, assures people that any clients who have had an intake will be matched with counsellors and all appointments will be completed, either in person or virtually.
Lia Versaevel, the society’s board president, acknowledged the decision to close the doors and suspend counselling services is going to be devastating for many in the community who have come to rely on CFLA’s services.
“Our clients are the Valley’s vulnerable citizens, including seniors, single parents, young adults, people who don’t have access to extended benefits, or the financial means for private counselling,” she said. “Referrals come from everywhere, including local service providers.”
CFLA’s executive director Madelaine MacLeod said a recent request for support for core funding from the Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions was also unsuccessful.
“We reached out to them because referrals from Duncan Mental Health, family doctors, social workers, and other agencies like MCFD and WorkBC make up 54 per cent of our clients,” she said.
Prior to 2020, referrals mostly came from family and friends.
Counselling services are intended for mild to moderate situations such as grief, stress, depression, and loneliness, but MacLeod said the level of need, especially since COVID, has changed dramatically.
“People are still struggling with the trauma of losing loved ones they were unable to see during COVID lockdowns, anxiety is manifesting differently, as are life stresses, which now include climate change, war, and crippling financial situations,” she said. “Our volunteers and interns are seeing a huge shift in what people need from us.”
MacLeod also noted the explosive growth in client numbers.
“We saw more clients in 2022 than in any year previous; in 2023 that number increased by 48 per cent; and we are currently trending for a 68 per cent increase for 2024,” she said. “This has stretched us beyond our capacity for both space and staffing, which is especially challenging without any stable core funding to support the work we do.”
Jorgenson echoed the impact of the loss of the counselling program. He said he hopes this is a short-term situation that the CFLA can overcome.
“Thousands of people have used our services since CFLA opened,” Jorgenson said. “Some have been coming to us every year; many over the decades as their lives changed. Many more have attended the workshops and programs. For example, close to 500 people have completed our Counsellor Training over the years, and from that roughly 45 per cent of our volunteers have gone on to get degrees and work locally in the fields of social services or psychotherapy. We want people to understand that our work is done by trained volunteers and practicum students, which is why we can offer sessions at little to no cost.”
Last year, more than 1,600 volunteer hours were contributed back into the community, up 25 per cent from 2022.
CFLA is working with their landlord and invites anyone who might be looking for space to connect.
“The location has three offices, a decent meeting space, and lots of storage. We might even be able to negotiate something ‘fully furnished’," said MacLeod.
Behind the scenes, the board is still looking at options for the affordable counselling program, including finding additional funding sources, possible redesign of the program so it is only available remotely alleviating some overhead costs, and potentially moving the affordable counselling program somewhere else.
“Our situation remains fluid,” said Versaevel.
She noted that the society and charity are still active and will continue to exist.
