A drop-in program and rooming house for seniors in Edmonton’s inner city closed Wednesday due to financial difficulties, repeated vandalism and abuse toward clients, volunteers and staff.
The board of directors at Operation Friendship Seniors Society (OFSS), which has been operating out of a building at 9526 106 Ave. since 1969, made the announcement in a news release Thursday, describing a “myriad of reasons.”
“Funding for the drop-in program has decreased over the past several years and we are no longer financially able to sustain it,” said the board.
The board said violence toward staff, volunteers and seniors has been escalating and has forced OFSS to hire additional security 24-7.
“The rooming house has been a target for increased vandalism that unfortunately we cannot afford to keep repairing,” said the board.
“Our staff have had their vehicles vandalized … windshields smashed, tires slashed.”
OFSS will continue to operate programs at its other facilities, including multiple apartment units and free activities like bingo, sing-alongs and fishing trips.
“The board of directors will continue to work towards finding a safer and more secure place for the drop-in as we still believe it to be the core of our agency,” said the board.
Boyle Street Community Services’ manager of mental health and wellness services, Deborah Von Richter, said this is yet another hurdle for the most vulnerable.
“With so many more people experiencing poverty and increased mental health challenges in Edmonton this year, it’s unfortunate to see yet another barrier that our community members most in need have to face with the closure of Operation Friendship’s drop-in and rooming house,” she said.
“The harsh reality is that most services for seniors in our region have a cost to participate. For folks already living on a very limited income, these participation fees can make it impossible to take part in programming.
“On top of that, for the seniors trying to cope with mental health and addiction issues, Operation Friendship was one of the only places they could go to socialize, volunteer, and receive support within an age-specific, harm reduction framework. This closure is yet another hard hit on many of the people most in need in Edmonton.”
Jim Gurnett with the Edmonton Coalition on Housing & Homelessness said he’s saddened to hear the news of the closure.
“For decades, that’s been an important part of life here.”
He expects the closure will add to the stress of older Edmontonians who live in the city’s core.
“I think we need to really be questioning the elected people who are telling us: ‘Oh, things are getting better and better. We’re opening more shelter spaces, we’re extending hours at drop-ins,'” Gurnett said.
“The evidence is organizations are not able to sustain even the services they’ve been offering to people and we’re doing far too little for people who are struggling.”