The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2014-02-05, Page 3Wednesday, February 5, 2014 • News Record 3 Anti -poverty initiative sharpening focus on 'no wrong door' Gerard Creces Clinton News Record The Huron Anti -Poverty Initiative (HAPI) is looking at the long haul. The group met at the Huron County Health Unit Thursday, January 23, to discuss the next steps in tackling one of the county's biggest problems and to think of a long-range picture. The group is made up primarily of social service workers, non-profit agencies and food bank employees from across Huron County, and that interconnectivity between service providers is a big step toward the committee's goal. "The different agencies and services - the ones that are represented at the table - I believe there is a shared understanding that we need to work together to reduce and eliminate pov- erty and we need to explore how we're going to do that," said Janice Dunbar, Community Developer at the Huron County Health Unit. "It won't be a sin- gle bullet but several different strategies." The concept of a "no wrong door" policy - being able to link clients with appropriate services regardless of where they turn - will also mean peo- ple will not have to repeat their stories from call to call, agency to agency. However, the bigger change requires political will, and HAPI also wants to see both policy and advocacy at the government level to ensure the commitment is there to tackle poverty. To date, there have been no eco- nomic development or employment representatives at the table, however, Dunbar said that is one sector HAPI hopes to engage more in the coming year. Education and awareness - both for those requiring services and the public, will also factor heavily in greater coordination and cooperation from social services. In earlier meetings, there were ave- nues of various social services literally unknown to each other, such as the revamped and renamed low-income housing program. However, like most services, those programs too are WHO'S W1iS Of Our Local Business Women Attention: Women In Business The Clinton News Record and the Seaforth Huron Expositor will be placing Special Pages in our Wednesday March 5th edition for our Local "Women In Business" Let our readers know about you and your business or services. Why you started the business you are in and what products or services makes your business unique. Home - Retail - Service! Contact Us Today! 519-482-3443 or Call 519-527-0240 Clintonws Record Huron Expositor Dawn Johnston-clinton.ads @ sunmedia.ca Maxwell Bickford-max.bickford @ sunmedia.ca feeling the effects of provincial funding withdrawal. According to Statistics Canada, only 20 per cent of people in poverty are using food banks. A more startling figure shows 60 per cent of all food bank users are employed yet still unable to provide for themselves. Mike Verhoog of the Exeter Food Bank said clients sent a strong message that dignity means everything when living in poverty. Having the power to make decisions and the autonomy to be able to follow through really cuts down on the shame or pressure placed on those in pov- erty, who are made to feel beholden for any assistance they receive. That drain on a person's confidence also transfers into searching for employment, and community involvement. The discrimination facing people in poverty is often enough for them to effectively remove themselves from the labour market. "That's what I see," said Verhoog. "I'm not good enough, so why try?" The consultation process wraps up in June, and Dunbar said the group will be moving for- ward with small steps from there. County initia- tives, such as the transportation group and homelessness and housing group, overlap with HAPI, as they face many of the same obstacles. Dunbar said it's time to reengage with the com- munity groups and reengage those who were part of the initial process. HAPI will be holding a public meeting Mar. 6 from 1-4 p.m. at the Huron County Health Unit. I ILLroaL-berth Catholk 1 I.;LriciSchool ( lard ! rt°iv-aln: Entering Secondary. School in Septernboi 201.47 Consider a Catholic Secondary Education at St. 'Michael Catholic Secondary School 241DOakdale f.4efltrie STIIAT O D cIh NSAIWN. 5P5 -271 -II Dai! Peters, Principal Cet:L. 1231) http://s.mcss.hpalsb.edu.on.ca Open tO Ea Penh Co 'My MI:Penis. St. Anne's CathnIlc. Secondary 5chaol R.O. Six &9+] CUNTOtdON NOMILO Phone: 519-4132-5451 JrxJi Koren, Prin Oal (ext. 101D hdp: rsacss.hpcdab_edu.an.ca OP1V air Fkaruur Gaunryr swudents. The CaLliOlit 3eei rltlary S,the.rls Hur.ari and Perth C i.miiEti t"'Irer: + Religious Educ-arkinand Social Justice oprkurturilties. based on Gatholic Christian teaching for a.._ Students. + A Pull, rich pram -r or deal:Mrnksa the krzs, French InionersiJn,, Go-weraiive Education., and OntarIo Y'oufhA.pprenticc•shrip cpportunities. • A diverse iriarani !ar co-rturridulur cionbrkeiillieS with "kite buses" running thriougllaut our 'aunties after the regular bus mutes. • Modern,. well-equipped educational facilities, including up-te-date technology education Ffloliiics. • Gx]y rrirrierSL-reCogiiited Hikh Skills Majors in Green Enemy, Arts a:id Culture.. C'r sLrucLirif'! Technol,-n agricultural Technalopyr, amd marc 1a came. • Academic achievement which is near the beg in the province in Grade 10 Literacy, course pass rates, and graduation rates` Our iecandaryrschools areepr'r7 siudnrsts desiring Catholic scuondary odication. ricasaa died]. elat— this rniPlt f F4 Total ror vr>sir corn or our 'Entering Secondary School' Guide. go to saww.huronperthcaiholic.ca and click an "Getting Ready for rlecendary Schap. °. B!ARI t rfibSJGW STA TEMErf T Wo area Gathclr .d -.pal Hoard Vie ssrva our sal l -rts, working titan fan Mann, parish 2nd Sd500 ODITirtrii FIM: + Nurture a Gem-heantred cvrvrmnreanr. • 'r kJ@ adlrettrryck :tjtete Et1 C'ih•rcvinnr : + Suppnri' fife graiven cr rho 5aa pw an Roti Marco Vince Ma Oor' iW Chairperson Director r5F£ducaii.in Call THE LUNG ASSOCIATION'" When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.T' Asthnia? We can help. I ILLroaL-berth Catholk 1 I.;LriciSchool ( lard ! rt°iv-aln: Entering Secondary. School in Septernboi 201.47 Consider a Catholic Secondary Education at St. 'Michael Catholic Secondary School 241DOakdale f.4efltrie STIIAT O D cIh NSAIWN. 5P5 -271 -II Dai! Peters, Principal Cet:L. 1231) http://s.mcss.hpalsb.edu.on.ca Open tO Ea Penh Co 'My MI:Penis. St. Anne's CathnIlc. Secondary 5chaol R.O. Six &9+] CUNTOtdON NOMILO Phone: 519-4132-5451 JrxJi Koren, Prin Oal (ext. 101D hdp: rsacss.hpcdab_edu.an.ca OP1V air Fkaruur Gaunryr swudents. The CaLliOlit 3eei rltlary S,the.rls Hur.ari and Perth C i.miiEti t"'Irer: + Religious Educ-arkinand Social Justice oprkurturilties. based on Gatholic Christian teaching for a.._ Students. + A Pull, rich pram -r or deal:Mrnksa the krzs, French InionersiJn,, Go-weraiive Education., and OntarIo Y'oufhA.pprenticc•shrip cpportunities. • A diverse iriarani !ar co-rturridulur cionbrkeiillieS with "kite buses" running thriougllaut our 'aunties after the regular bus mutes. • Modern,. well-equipped educational facilities, including up-te-date technology education Ffloliiics. • Gx]y rrirrierSL-reCogiiited Hikh Skills Majors in Green Enemy, Arts a:id Culture.. C'r sLrucLirif'! Technol,-n agricultural Technalopyr, amd marc 1a came. • Academic achievement which is near the beg in the province in Grade 10 Literacy, course pass rates, and graduation rates` Our iecandaryrschools areepr'r7 siudnrsts desiring Catholic scuondary odication. ricasaa died]. elat— this rniPlt f F4 Total ror vr>sir corn or our 'Entering Secondary School' Guide. go to saww.huronperthcaiholic.ca and click an "Getting Ready for rlecendary Schap. °. B!ARI t rfibSJGW STA TEMErf T Wo area Gathclr .d -.pal Hoard Vie ssrva our sal l -rts, working titan fan Mann, parish 2nd Sd500 ODITirtrii FIM: + Nurture a Gem-heantred cvrvrmnreanr. • 'r kJ@ adlrettrryck :tjtete Et1 C'ih•rcvinnr : + Suppnri' fife graiven cr rho 5aa pw an Roti Marco Vince Ma Oor' iW Chairperson Director r5F£ducaii.in