Independent Living turns to rental business to pay bills

A group in Sudbury that supports people with disabilities is the latest to become entrepreneurial in a bid for stable funding—as the line between charity and business continues to blur.

The executive director of Independent Living said the group owns its own section of a multi-unit building that runs along Durham Street.

Last year, it purchased the neighbouring section — a space once used by a women’s clothing store — and Rob DiMeglio hopes a socially-minded group will rent the space.

DiMeglio said his agency depends on cyclical funding, which often ends at the end of March.

“And so, April-May's a scary month for us. We're kind of in limbo until our projects are approved.”

Usually that's when staff members have to be laid off and volunteers recruited. DiMeglio said he'd like to avoid the downturn by having monthly rent coming in from next door.

United Way executive director Michael Cullen in Sudbury said becoming an entrepreneur helps to pad sought-after charitable funding.

“The feel-good stuff is wonderful, and the kids we help and the seniors we help, that's all beautiful, but there's so much competition,” he said.

Social enterprise—the practice of using business strategies for public good—is so common these days that his agency has created a program to teach non-profits how to make the transition.

“We must always consider that a charity or a non-profit is a business with some of the tightest margins, the tightest controls, some of the most transparent measures. We are business operators,” Cullen said.

Cullen noted there are many examples of the merger of charity and enterprise — citing the Jarrett Centre as one.

As for Independent Living, DiMeglio said he hopes someone rents their space soon.