Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and committee members, for the opportunity to testify during this unprecedented and trying time of crisis.
The YMCA has been a part of communities for decades. We've been a place of connection and belonging in times of fortune and celebration, and we've been there in times of recessions, depressions and disasters, helping communities recover. COVID-19 has been no different.
From coast to coast, YMCAs have steadfastly continued to provide services to ensure communities have access to the supports they need during the crisis, either by moving them online or opening our doors wherever possible. We are transforming our facilities to protect the homeless and providing child care for essential workers. Our employment and training, as well as our immigrant and settlement services, are being delivered by phone and online. We have launched virtual workshops to promote physical health and mental wellness. We are leveraging technology and other avenues to reach seniors and young people in isolation.
Through these efforts we are supporting the fight against COVID-19 by providing Canadians with what they need to be on the front lines and remain healthy and physically distant.
YMCAs are responding to the urgent needs of communities, but not in the absence of significant challenges as a result of closures and declining revenues. This comes at a time when the demand for our services has increased as communities look for supports to cope and connect during the pandemic.
We thank the Government of Canada for recognizing the needs of the charitable sector during this pandemic. The Canada emergency wage subsidy has meant that YMCAs can retain and recall staff previously laid off and ensure they remain connected to their employer. The $350-million emergency community support fund will help charities continue to provide emergency services to vulnerable populations today.
While these announcements are a positive step forward, a large financial gap continues to exist in the absence of core stabilization support for the charitable sector. Our cash flow projections have informed that YMCAs in Canada are going to be missing $42 million in the next three months and $84 million in the next six months. This funding is required to keep them all open.
Considering we are now in week 11 of this pandemic, we are extremely concerned with this financial position. That's why YMCA Canada supports Imagine Canada's urgent call for broader sector stabilization to address this financial shortfall. An immediate funding program that will provide us with stability during this precarious time will ensure we can continue to provide programs that communities rely on and that our facilities, spaces that Canadians helped us to build in these communities, remain open once again when we all come together.
As a federation, we're made up of 44 YMCA member associations with reach into communities all across Canada. We have the means to deliver these funds quickly with accountability measures in place to maximize the impact of this investment on Canadians.
In addition to sector stabilization, this pandemic will require us to evolve to return to the next normal. We'll need to retrofit our spaces and purchase PPE to adhere to the health and safety limitations, continue to innovate and deliver programs remotely, introduce new programs and expand existing services to meet demands. This also means updating our operating model to ensure we can be agile in a changing environment and continue to be responsive to the needs of communities moving forward. Financial support to enable this transformation will be critical for the social and economic recovery of our country.
Young people will need greater access to employment services and training to obtain meaningful employment. Demand for immigrant and settlement services will increase once the border restrictions have been lifted and people are able to arrive in Canada. Individuals will be seeking mental health supports to manage stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic. Parents, particularly mothers, will need to know their children are safe and have access to high-quality child care to return to work or to school, or to find a new job.
We recognize these are significant investments. However, the cost to replace the social and community infrastructure built over generations is much greater. Immediate sector stabilization and transformation funding programs will enable our sustainability through this pandemic and our ability to support community recovery, just as we have in trying times before this.
For the YMCA, this means continuing to reach over 2.28 million people and employing over 30,000 staff through 1,700 locations.
Thank you for the opportunity. The Prime Minister has indicated he'll be there for all Canadians, and the charitable sector is telling you we need your support today more than ever.
Thank you.