Thanks for having me.
Let me start by recognizing and thanking the federal government, all of you as MPs and Canada's federal civil servants for the critical work you've been doing through this pandemic. Your work has been extraordinary, important and needed, and we're not done, obviously.
United Way Centraide Canada is Canada's largest funder of vital community services. We're focused on eliminating poverty and ensuring vulnerable Canadians have the support they need to build sustainable livelihoods. We serve all regions of Canada. Every year, United Way Centraide invests over $500 million to support 3,500 different community organizations and over 5,000 programs and services.
We've stepped up over the course of the pandemic. We're working with municipalities, public health organizations, foundations and frontline agencies to coordinate local responses. Through our fundraising, we've also been able to mobilize an additional $40 million in support for our community responses.
I would note that with the support of the federal government, we've been able to rapidly expand our 211 navigation service to all regions of Canada to help ensure that every Canadian can get the help they need when they need it. Also through the support of the federal government, we were able to expand funding to over 870 seniors organizations serving hundreds of thousands of isolated seniors through the new horizons program for seniors. Through the emergency community support fund, we were able to fund over 5,260 community programs across the country.
With that as context, there are really about five key messages I'd like to share with you.
The first is that our community services infrastructure in Canada has really stepped up to meet the needs of Canadians, but I also want to let you know that these organizations are under great stress and need your support. We know, and we've heard consistently over the course of the year, that demand for services has increased. Not only has it increased, but it has stayed elevated throughout the pandemic.
We know revenues are declining amongst community services organizations by an average of over 40%. Some of it is due to lost donations and some of it is due to losses in earned revenue, but we also know costs are going up due to social distancing, PPE, safety requirements and the loss of volunteers. We don't have the same capacity to participate, due to health and safety issues.
The third point I'd like to raise is—certainly I've heard this—that programs like the Canada emergency wage subsidy program have been tremendously helpful to charities and community services organizations. It has helped them protect staff positions in the face of declining revenues. We know and support the fact that this program was extended until June, but we certainly also support Imagine Canada's call for a further extension of that program.
The fourth point that I think is really important—it's perhaps my most important point—is that our essential community services need a lifeline to the other side of this pandemic to ensure that they can continue to serve, adapt and respond to the needs of Canadians. This is why United Way Centraide Canada, alongside the YMCA and the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the National Association of Friendship Centres and many others have been calling for a community services COVID relief fund.
This fund would do a couple of things. First, it would provide a temporary, 18-month operating funding program to help bridge the gap in the operating capacity of charities and community services organizations, so they can continue to serve Canadians. The second component would be a transformation fund—a fund that can help community services invest in their capacity, whether it be technology, operating model changes or innovation in the program delivery, so that they can come out the other side of this pandemic stronger and more resilient.
Perhaps I'll close here. When I think about where we are in the pandemic today, if we want a strong and equitable recovery for all Canadians, we're going to need to support the very community-based and community-led organizations that support youth, that deliver child care and after-school programs, that protect women and families experiencing domestic violence and that support our Black and indigenous communities and people of colour who are living in vulnerable circumstances. We know they have faced the most significant impacts of these pandemics.
I really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today. I'm happy to answer your questions.
Again, thank you for all the leadership and support you are also providing to Canadians every day.