Where is funding for London's Transitioning Youth Employment Program?: OPSEU

LONDON, ON, Nov. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - Staff at Community Living London are wondering what happened to the promised funding for an important local employment program for youth with disabilities. The Transitioning Youth Employment Program will close effective December 1, 2013 unless long-awaited funds materialize.

"There has been no government announcement regarding cutting this program. What is going on? We all deserve some answers," said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

The Transitioning Youth Employment Program is funded by the Federal Government's Human Resources and Skills Development Canada - Opportunities Fund but has received nothing for this fiscal year.

"This program has been serving our community's young adults with disabilities for 14 years," said Staff Representative, Lynne Easter. "Closing it down will be a huge loss to so many young people and their families."

While Community Living London has attempted to keep this valuable program running, it announced late last month that they can no longer do so.  The end result is the loss of two jobs, not to mention the loss of this valuable service.

Ontario currently has 23,000 thousand people with disabilities on a waiting list for services. Chronic underfunding of developmental services continues to put persons with disabilities at risk in their communities.

Due to a lack of available services, people with disabilities are sometimes placed into inappropriate care such as long-term care homes. This exacerbates an already overloaded system.

SOURCE: OPSEU

Lynne Easter, OPSEU Staff Representative: 519-657-8312  [email protected]
Emily Visser, OPSEU Communications: 416-557-7936  [email protected]