B.C. Disability Support Non-Profit Curiko Faces Closure After Funding Cut
A British Columbia non-profit organization that provides crucial support for individuals with disabilities is sounding the alarm about potential closure by the end of summer following a provincial decision to terminate its funding.
Vulnerable Community Faces Loss of Vital Services
Curiko, based in Vancouver, offers both online and in-person workshops and social events for approximately 400 people struggling with social isolation and developmental disabilities. The organization has been informed that its annual funding of $1.2 million will not be renewed, putting its operations at serious risk of shutting down by fall 2026.
"In B.C., there's been a commitment since the 1980s to deinstitutionalize people with developmental disabilities, but the reality is that many individuals still experience profound loneliness," explained Dr. Sarah Schulman, team lead for Curiko. "They often rely on paid staff without developing mutual relationships or experiencing genuine community inclusion."
Provincial Budget Constraints Impact Multiple Sectors
The funding cut to Curiko represents one of numerous consequences stemming from the province's efforts to control spending amid a substantial $13.3 billion deficit. These austerity measures have affected various sectors across British Columbia, including health authorities facing thousands of job cuts, programs supporting families with ill children encountering new restrictions, and halted development of several long-term care facilities and hospital redevelopment projects.
Community Living B.C., the Crown agency responsible for overseeing care for over 30,000 British Columbians with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome, made the decision not to renew Curiko's funding. This occurred despite the agency receiving an $81 million funding increase in the most recent provincial budget, bringing its total budget to $1.9 billion.
"Core Mission" Rationale for Funding Termination
Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson explained that Community Living B.C. chose not to renew Curiko's funding because the program fell outside the agency's "core" mission. Most of Community Living's funding supports contractors who provide personalized services to individuals with disabilities based on customized plans developed by case workers.
"Community Living's core function involves providing community-inclusion supports that are tied to one individual at a time," Minister Malcolmson stated. "Curiko's services, while valuable, aren't tailored to specific client needs and were funded through a small discretionary allocation."
The minister clarified that Curiko appears to be the only program Community Living decided to cut specifically because it wasn't directly tied to individual support plans.
Research-Based Programming at Risk
Dr. Schulman expressed disappointment with the funding decision, noting that Community Living B.C. had been a collaborator for many years before reverting to funding only what they consider "core or essential services."
Curiko's programming emerged from research demonstrating how social isolation negatively impacts individuals with developmental disabilities like autism. The organization offers diverse online programming specifically designed for people with disabilities who may face challenges attending in-person events, addressing a critical gap in community support systems.
The potential closure of Curiko highlights ongoing tensions between budgetary constraints and support services for vulnerable populations in British Columbia, raising questions about how communities will address the social isolation experienced by hundreds of individuals with disabilities across the province.
