Swann vows to increase help for homelesss and less fortunate

The Alberta Liberal Party announced two policy initiatives Friday they’re hoping will help the province’s homeless and less fortunate.

Standing outside the Drop-In Centre, interim leader David Swann vowed to increase funding to Family and Community Support Services by 25 per cent and reinstate former Premier Stelmach’s Charitable Donation Tax Credit.

“These people, many of them, are out on the streets, not getting the mental health services and supports they need, we’ve had cuts to FCSS that have meant some of the most cost effective services aren’t there,” he tells 660News.

In a release, the party revealed they believe Budget 2015 hurts the most vulnerable citizens in two ways, public and private. On the public sector side, they say FCSS funding remains flat for the eighth consecutive year, and on the private sector side, they say Jim Prentice has slashed the CDTC to 2007 levels.

Swann added Albertans have a choice, they can either invest now or pay more later.

“It’s not only a discouragement to those who haven’t received the funding from the government side, the philanthropists, the wealthy in our community that want to support many of these causes are basically saying they can’t donate as much, it’s not going to be as readily available, because they can’t get the deductions they need,” he said.

“There’s a tremendous opportunity to prevent a lot of the suffering, homelessness, mental illness and addiction, if they get to families early with investments in the community, supports and services and provide people with the education opportunities they need.”

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