A financial pinch at Windsor's Downtown Mission has led to some difficult decisions.
The non-profit announced on Tuesday morning that it will close its Social Enterprise Program, Mission Promotional Products, on Friday, September 25.
Executive Director Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin said that declining donations and rising costs made the move necessary.
"This is an incredibly difficult time for the Downtown Mission, our staff, and the community members who rely on us every day," said Ponniah-Goulin in a media release. "Ending the Mission Promotional Products enterprise was a painful but necessary decision to keep our doors open. We are doing everything in our power to navigate this crisis, but we must face the reality of our financial position. Moving forward, our absolute priority must be protecting our most vital, life-saving services."
The program, originally called Chari-Tees when it was launched two years ago, prints promotional products and branded merchandise while training at-risk populations for the job market.
Ponniah-Goulin added that the Mission will undergo a strategic review of the remaining programs and services, not ruling out future reductions.
The Mission is among other non-profits in Windsor-Essex that have seen costs rise to provide essential shelter, food, and support, due to inflation, U.S. tariffs, and increased demand from vulnerable people.
The total operating bill for the Mission in 2025 was $4,397,940, with 69.5 per cent coming from fundraising.
Ponniah-Goulin said everything is being done to line up emergency funding and find cost-saving measures to prevent further cuts.
"All costs are increasing," said Ponniah-Goulin. "We are receiving notices of increases in price from suppliers, and donations are down compared to last year. We are at the point now that there are no more cuts available for operational supplies, and we need to make difficult decisions on reduction of programs, services, and potentially beds if the trend continues."
Complete information about programs at the Mission and ways to donate can be found on the Mission's official website.
