Ontario non-profit services need $500 million agency-union groups argue.

TORONTO -- Ontario's voluntary social services agencies need an immediate financial investment from the provincial government, says a group of agencies and unions who have embarked on a province-wide campaign.

In response to the group's demands for an immediate infusion of $500 million into the sector, Ontario Social Services Minister, Sandra Pupatello said that those demands "sounded reasonable" as long as it was spread out over the first term of the government.

The report, Building Strong Communities: A call to reinvest in Ontario's nonprofit social services, the group claims that the province's social service infrastructure is suffering under the weight of flatlined funding, increased demand for service and growing expectations from government.

"Our budgets have been flatlined for at least eight years while inflation has eaten away at the income we do get," said Yves Savoie, executive director of the Family Service Association of Toronto. "The previous government's view that private donors would fill the gap was a pipe dream."

The group points out that the demand for service has only increased across the provinces said Heather McGregor, executive director of YWCA Toronto, noting that cuts to welfare, social housing, child care, health and education have also taken their toll.

"Workers have had to move into crisis management and away from support, assistance and advocacy, all the time trying to do more with less," added Sid Ryan, President of CUPE Ontario. "They are coping with greater levels of stress and burnout coupled with minimal or no salary and benefit increases."

They called on the provincial government to:

* increase provincial funding to non-profit agencies immediately to help offset the cuts by previous governments and start to address the losses incurred by inflation;

* bring together representatives of agencies, unions and key ministries to create new funding practices that will enable agencies to attract and maintain a qualified and stable workforce and plan effectively to meet community needs;

* strengthen social and economic supports for all Ontarians with immediate action to improve welfare rates, build affordable housing, expand affordable child care programs and ensure decent public health care and education.

Among those backing the report are:

CUPE Ontario, YWCA Toronto, OPSEU, YWCA Durham, UNITE! YWCA St. Catharines, St. Christopher House, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, St. Clair West Services for Seniors, YWCA Kitchener/Waterloo, Ralph Thornton Centre, YWCA Hamilton Dixon Hall, YWCA Muskoka Central Neighbourhood House, YWCA Toronto, Community Information Centre for the City of York, YWCA Peterborough, Victoria and Haliburton, St. Stephen's Community House, Neighbourhood Link/Senior Link Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre, Lakeshore Area Multi-Service Project, Karuna Community Services, Family Service Association, The Canadian Hearing Society, Touchstone Youth Centre, WoodGreen Community Centre of Toronto & UNITE! Local 154, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, Warden Woods Community Centre, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, Labour