'Continue to Fight': North Bay, Ont. non-profit battles to stay afloat amid funding challenges

In North Bay, a lifeline for vulnerable youth faces the possibility of closure. 

OUTLoud North Bay, a grassroots community centre founded in 2019, has become a sanctuary for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and others in need. Despite its critical role, the organization struggles to survive, citing chronic underfunding and volunteer burnout.

Founder Seth Compton said OUTLoud opened its doors just weeks before the pandemic reshaped the world. Initially focused on supporting  2SLGBTQ+ youth, the centre quickly expanded to serve all young people seeking a safe space.

"When COVID hit, we realized that all kids needed a safe space. So we opened up to whoever needed access to our services," Compton said.

Since then, OUTLoud has offered services including mental health support, harm reduction, suicide prevention, life skills programs and necessities like meals, clothing and hygiene products. Over the past five years, it has supported youth facing systemic barriers and personal hardships.

And, the weight of the work is often heavy. The centre has lost four young people to suicide since opening, a reminder of what's at stake.

"Losing four lives in the last five years is far too many lives. I think that if our organization closed doors, I think we would see more of those numbers," Compton said. 

The organization is run entirely by volunteers. Compton balances a full-time job while managing the non-profit.

"Nobody gets paid… these folks feel connected to what we do and they've been with me from day one," Compton said.

Despite its successes, OUTLoud faces financial challenges. The centre relies on donations from local businesses, community members and sporadic grants. Compton said securing funding has been a constant struggle, with repeated rejections from major grants such as the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

"We're tired. It's been a long haul.," he said. "We write grant after grant and spend hour after hour, day after day and continue to just be denied."

It's a feeling that many other organizations face.

"I talk with a lot of other community partners, local food banks, some of the churches, other organizations that rely on funding and for whatever reason, it's just been a lot more difficult to secure those funds," he said. 

As the possibility of closure looms, Compton is asking the community to recognize the importance of OUTLoud's work.