Community social services matter

March is Community Social Services (CSS) Awareness Month. This year the people who do this important work and the British Columbians who pay for and rely on these services need support more than ever before.

The B.C. government refuses to make community social services a priority. In the past six months, nearly 100 community programs have been cut across the province. More cuts are coming.

The government's promise to trim $10 million from the Ministry of Child and Family Development budget by April 1 will be devastating to communities and the British Columbians who rely on these important services, despite what Minister Mary Polak says.

Ten million dollars may be a drop in the bucket to a government that deals in billions of dollars. But that amount means a whole lot to families who deal in dollars and cents. Ten million dollars also means a whole lot to the communities facing cuts to programs that are even more badly needed in this tough economic climate.

The community social services sector helps to drive local economies. Based on economic data generated by the B.C. government, adding just one community social services job translates into an estimated annual economic boost of $84,000. Imagine the cost to communities when jobs are cut. The economic impact of losing two-dozen jobs in the CSS sector translates into more $2 million dollars.

Every community in B.C. depends on social services and the people who deliver these services. To learn more about community social services and what's at stake, visit our community social services website by clicking here .