CYRENIANS EVIDENCE TOO LATE TO SAVE VITAL SERVICES?
Tomorrow the Accounts Commission will start hearing evidence in Aberdeen on many aspects of how Aberdeen City Council has conducted its business over the last number of years. The Cyrenians are one of a number of groups from whom the Commission will hear evidence but, whatever happens there, it looks like it is too late to save some of the vital services that they provide for homeless people.
The Cyrenians have been campaigning for many months protesting against the huge cut in funding, £880,000 which will see 4 of their vital services close. Despite such protests including 10,000 people signing their petition, the Council is determine to make this cut in funding. The cuts will take effect at the end of July when four projects will be closed with the loss of 25 staff.
Three residential homes (Craig House, Fonthill and Stopover) will close with a loss of 23 rooms affecting at least 50 homeless people a year with a further 100 affected by the closure of the Cygnet Project' s improving employability service.
Paul Hannan, Chief Executive, says "We have been forced into this course of action by the funding situation at Aberdeen City Council, but the sad fact is we simply cannot afford to keep all members of staff in light of the funding cuts. It is disappointing that we are being forced to lose such a large number of committed members of staff, many of whom have been with us for a number of years."
ENDS 12 May 2008
The Cyrenians: Amy S Grant, Fundraising & Communications Manager- 01224 572877 or 07766 954 923 outwith office hours. amy.grant@aberdeen-cyrenians.org
Paul Hannan - 01224 572877 or 01224 826908 (home), 07971 962555 (mobile) outwith office hours. paul.hannan@aberdeen-cyrenians.org
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"They have taken me off the street and given me a roof over my head. I get all my meals everyday. I get a lot of help from Stopover and they care a lot about me. I don't know where I would be if Stopover hadn't taken me off the streets."