Halifax charity suspends emergency assistance program due to funding shortfall
The Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank has had to suspend its emergency assistance program because 80 per cent of its budget has been depleted in just over a month.
Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank says it’s running out of money sooner than expected
A Halifax-based charity has had to temporarily suspend emergency assistance because funding for its program is running out sooner than expected.
In a typical year, the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank can help upwards of 200 people with costs like electricity, heating oil and prescription drugs.
Parker Street offers assistance on an urgent basis for people who apply for help when they can’t make the payments themselves.
But executive director Denise Daley said Parker Street has already used 80 per cent of the fund’s budget in just over a month.
Daley said the charity will process requests received by Feb. 16, but won’t be able to deal with anything after that for now.
“The increase is due to inflation and the bills are going up as well, so persons are looking for a friendly neighbour, somebody who’s able to help,” Daley said.
“They reach out to us because the cost of food is high, medication is high —
