Red Deer city council calls for more social services funding

Growing demand for Family and Community Support Services programs

Red Deer city council calls for more social services funding Published 8:00 pm Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Red Deer city council is leading a move to lobby the province to provide more funding for social programs. Council unanimously endorsed a resolution to take to this fall’s Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) convention calling on the provincial government to step up its financial support for Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and Community Well-Being programs. The resolution calls for long-term sustainable funding for prevention programs and strengthen collaboration within social services to help communities address social challenges before they become crises.

The resolution calls on the province to provide long-term, sustainable funding for prevention programs and strengthen collaboration across Alberta’s social service system to help communities address challenges before they become crises. Coun. Cassandra Curtis said last month FCSS was moved from the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services to the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, which has a smaller budget.

Curtis, who is on the FCSS board and is a member of its finance committee, said FCSS funding is based exclusively on prevention programs. However, there is a growing need in many communities for financial help in supporting intervention programs as well. “Many individuals and families require support for multiple issues at the same time, increasing pressure on local service providers and municipalities,” says background for the proposed ABmunis resolution.

“Examples from both rural and urban communities show significant increases in demand for FCSS services, referrals, and support requests.” While many people turn to FCSS for help, programs linked to transportation, case management, hands-on service co-ordination, outreach, and practical supports often fall outside FCSS funding. “This advocacy resolution, if successful, would support the continuum of care so someone requiring intervention-based supports, along with prevention-based supports would not be left behind,” Curtis told council.

FCSS supports 200 programs in 300 Alberta communities and Métis settlments and is often the only community-based social services agency in small, rural and remote communities. Funding has been stagnant for a number of years despite growing numbers of homeless and others requiring support.