Ally Centre in Sydney concerned about budget for next year

The Ally Centre in Sydney, formerly known as the AIDS Coalition, is sounding the alarm about its funding for next year.

Executive director Christine Porter says only half of next year's budget has been approved and if it doesn't receive the rest, services will have to be cut.

One of those services is collecting discarded needles. Porter collects discarded needles from the organization's sharps container everyday.

Last year, the Ally Centre supplied 623,000 syringes, 140,000 more than the previous year.

With only half of the centre's budget approved, Porter wonders how they will continue.

"We are unsure about coming years as to how secure, if we will have adequate funding to continue with the work that we do here," she said.

The centre has been serving Cape Breton for 20 years, providing prevention, education and support programs.

Porter says a funding shortfall is concerning.

"It's upsetting to the staff, to the board of this organization and to our stakeholders," she said. "That this very well could happen."

In previous years, the centre has helped thousands of Cape Bretoners, including a growing number of youth.

Porter says government cuts and amalgamation of health authorities has slowed funding for many non-profit groups.

"I remain hopeful and confident in the powers that be, decisions makers, they will indeed recognize and notice the benefits to the health of our community and the health of these individuals that use our services," she said.

If not, Porter fears people may have to be turned away.