The biggest challenges that we, as a funder, are facing are not so much our own challenges as they are the challenges of the 73 agencies that we fund. It's because of shifting government funding for a number of programs. I'm not saying federal and I'm not saying provincial and I'm not saying municipal; I'm saying it's a shift in the change of funding. Also, in our area, because of changes in the economic environment, there is a growth in poverty, especially among seniors, that is being impacted.
So when I say there's going to be a $600,000 shortfall, I'm implying that the agencies who have now just completed their funding applications have asked for $600,000 more than we have raised in this particular year. Last year it was $300,000 more, so it depends on the environment. Often, agencies would like to start new initiatives and they look to United Way to continue to fund them. Often, there are programs coming off three-year Trillium funding that then come to United Way to provide the sustainable funding.
One of the challenges that the agencies are trying to deal with—so they turn to us to be the financial resolution—is a growing demand for programs and services in the community that is not being met by other government programs.