Questions continue to swirl around pending Elizabeth Fry Society closure
The Elizabeth Fry Society Southern Ontario is poised to cease operations Friday after 52 years of helping at-risk women in the Hamilton community - the result of a sudden and surprising move by its board of directors, which has offered little explanation for the decision.
Dedicated staff, volunteers and the women served by Elizabeth Fry were devastated when the organization announced the upcoming closure in a brief social media statement March 20. In the statement, the board said the local Elizabeth Fry made the very difficult decision" to cease operations on March 31, 2023, due to concerns about the ongoing viability of the organization."
What those concerns" are has not been made clear. Staff members have told The Spectator they are unable to talk and that media requests have been sent to the board of directors, which has neither returned calls nor offered any further public explanation.
The charitable organization at 987 King St. E. was established in 1971 in Hamilton. It offers a variety of programs to help women navigate the justice system, including work inside jail, counselling and domestic violence support. The niche programming is based on the understanding that the majority of female offenders have experienced trauma - many in childhood - and abuse that contributed to homelessness, substance abuse, unhealthy relationships, financial problems and other systemic issues. There are more than 20 branches across the country.
The Spectator has confirmed the local Elizabeth Fry Society lost out on funding from the Ministry of the Solicitor General for a program that supports community-based sentencing options, such as community service, for adult offenders. The John Howard Society of Niagara - a not-for-profit organization that similarly works with people affected by the criminal justice system but does not specialize in working with women - is taking over that work.
However, funding from other community organizations for other Elizabeth Fry programs continued. It's unclear why the board decided to cease all operations. To many volunteers and community members, the decision came out of nowhere.
Where is the transparency?" asked Emily O'Brien, a former inmate and entrepreneur behind popcorn business Comeback Snacks. She has done peer support and volunteer work at the Hamilton chapter of Elizabeth Fry, including helping out with care packages on special occasions.
For O'Brien, the work done by the local organization is vital for vulnerable incarnated women who have no one else to help them.
It's not a nice-to-have, but a must-have," she said.
In its statement, the board said the organization is working closely with the ministry, funders and non-profit service providers in Hamilton to ensure suitable arrangements can be made for women." But it is unclear how that is happening, particularly given the short time frame between the announcement and March 31.
The Spectator has learned that staff have been scrambling to reach clients to let them know programs are shutting down. Many clients have learned about the pending closure through social media or media reports.
According to the charity's financial information listed by the Canada Revenue Agency, its total revenue was $406,004 and total expenses $305,445, including compensation for three full-time positions, for the fiscal year ending in March 2022. About nine per cent of its revenue came from donations, 43 per cent from gifts from other charities and 47 per cent from government funding.
The March 2023 financial documents have not yet been posted.
In an emailed statement, the office of Minister of the Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the funding for the programming supported by the ministry remains intact. However, in an effort to broaden the geographical area it reaches, a call for applications was put out.
The ministry regularly reviews its program criteria to ensure efficiency and the widest possible reach for clients," the statement reads. Following this regular review, the John Howard Society was selected and will be able to deliver these critical services to more recipients in a broader geographical area including Hamilton, Brantford and Stoney Creek."
At the same time, funding from community agencies for other programs remained intact. For instance, a popular drop-in program was funded by United Way. And the Hamilton Community Foundation, another donor, said in an emailed statement there have been no alterations in our funding support for the local Elizabeth Fry Society in the past year."
Gayla Matos and Jilly MacKellar, who run the Purse Project Network, have worked with the local Elizabeth Fry Society since a chance meeting with a staff member at an International Women's Day event in March 2020. The charity, which fills purses with personal-care items for women, has donated some of their purses to Elizabeth Fry clients each year.
I think they just fulfil a role that no one else fills," MacKellar said, adding that staff are so dedicated and compassionate, often going above and beyond to support women and help restore dignity.
MacKellar said she happened to be going over to Matos' house when the news broke about the pending closure. When she walked in Matos told her that she had bad news. By the look on Matos' face, MacKellar thought someone had died.
Matos said she was bawling" and absolutely shocked.
I don't know who is going to take over this work for these poor women," Matos said, adding that the women know Elizabeth Fry is a safe place for them where they can trust workers.
Both were at the King Street East office Monday volunteering, helping sort through a mountain of donated items that need to be distributed. They say they are devastated, but also praying that there is something that can be salvaged.
Lori Suleymanzade was also at the office Monday for the last of the regularly scheduled drop-in program. Suleymanzade has volunteered as a peer support worker at the organization for 12 years, after the Elizabeth Fry Society helped her. Some of the women who came Monday hadn't heard yet about the pending closure and were at a loss, sobbing and questioning what they will do without the support of staff and volunteers.
This is like family here," Suleymanzade said of the supporting and welcoming environment. There was a lot of hugging and crying.
One burst into tears and said what am I gong to do?" she said. I don't know what to say to these girls. They counted on EFry for so many reason."
She learned the organization was ceasing operations from the post on Instagram and said she was so stunned she didn't understand at first. She is heartbroken for the women left without services, and the staff and volunteers like herself.
It was a safe place for them and they felt comfortable, now they're lost, I'm lost," Suleymanzade said.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com