Torchlight Services in
For 42 years the not-for-profit charity located on
But new government initiatives aimed at integrating those clients into the greater community means Torchlight will no longer be able to have their clients work at the location.
New rules, that go into effect in 2019, prohibit "sheltered workshops." That means no more companies sending business their way.
That means no more making wooden display stands for a soap company, package gloves for an industrial glove provider or grind up used plastic testing containers for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association - contracts that currently account for 25 per cent of Torchlight's $400,000 annual budget.
"It's very complicated, we've got our work cut out for us," said acting executive director Patty Cote-Duncanson.
Torchlight is planning a Community Stakeholders Information Forum on June 22 from
Torchlight now has to find ways of making up that budget shortfall as well as find new ways of offering services for their clients. That could include off-site jobs, on-site skill training, volunteer opportunities and other options that are still being explored.
Those that work at Torchlight are paid 40 cents an hour, something Cote-Duncanson said was started as an incentive to get people to show up regularly years ago.
She said Torchlight offers those with serious issues, such as autism and severe developmental issues, a chance to work, a chance to have some structure in their lives and an opportunity to feel more useful.
"They like to work. They want to be productive," Cote-Duncanson said.
There is also a strong social and life skills component and for families that look after them, it can be a bit of relief.
Torchlight isn't the only organization affected. ARC Industries and others are faced with similar challenges.
But Cote-Duncanson said that Torchlight's clients tend to be on the more extreme end of the scale when it comes to their challenges, meaning most of the 42 people that currently come there on a regular basis are not employable in a traditional sense. Certainly not without strict supervision.
"We have to find them jobs in the community for (starting in 2018) $15 an hour, which will be difficult," she said. "There's only a handful of our people that could go out and do that.
"We deal with people who have some fairly serious mental health and development challenges."
Board of directors member Bruce Poole, whose son has gone to Torchlight for eight years, said the government isn't shutting them down.
"It's a good idea to try and integrate them into the community, but unfortunately most of our clients can't work on their own," he said.
"There's a lot of doors open we don't know are there,"
"We hope," added Cote-Duncanson, who has been conducting interviews with families of Torchlight's clients to see what their interests and strengths are to help address their needs moving forward.
Anyone interested in hearing about Torchlight and what is happening is urged to attend the June 22 meeting.
