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The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-27, Page 10P A10 - Goderich Signal -Star Wednesday, May 27, 2009 County sees rise in subsidized housing and arrears rates signal -star publishing The list has gotten a little lon- ger. That was the word delivered by David Overboe, social -services administrator, in reference to the county's current waiting list for subsidized housing during a May 19 committee -of -the -whole ses- sion. As it stands, he says, there are 237 individuals on the waiting list, which is "up slightly" from average figures. The arrears rate for housing is also on the rise to 3.12 per cent, up from the county's normal two per cent figure. However, notes Overboe, that figure is still nota- bly lower than the industry stan- dard of five per cent. Overboe reports the county is still awaiting word on more fund- ing for the affordable -housing program, which allocates grant money for potential homeowners in the lower-income strata. One of the pitfalls of the newer version of the program is the fo- cus is on helping buyers purchase new homes, says Overboe, which is something that will be difficult to achieve with a price cap of $156,000. Still, he says, the rationale be- hind the program is to "get shov- els in the ground" and create new construction jobs. ON THE RISE The number of county resi- dents relying on Ontario Works for survival is on the grow. David Overboe, social -servic- es administrator, notes the num- ber of cases rose to 501 from 482 over the past month. Though it is a "significant in- crease," Overboe reports the county caseload continues to rank far below its provincial counterpart. CHILD-CARE SERVICES Evy McDonagh says the num- ber of families benefiting from child-care subsidies is increasing thanks in part to new income - testing rules. "We are serving a lot more people in Huron County," she says. Also on tap for county staff is the* process of working with changes to the Best Start pro- gram, which will now be known as Early Learning and Child De- velopment. Further, the county is develop- ing an intergenerational child- care program to be stationed at the Bluewater Rest Home in Zurich, as part of the Best Start Initiative. Also on the child-care front is a new screening process for 18 -month -olds, which is a pilot project being operated in con- junction with the Clinton Family Health Team. Finally, in a concerted effort to offer more programs for boys, the county is working in conjunction with several partners to offer up a Touch the Truck literacy event in Holmesville from 9 a.m. till noon, June 13. ' NEW LOOK The 54 -unit apartment on West St. in Goderich will soon be home to sparkling new windows and doors thanks to a resolution to accept the $103,715 bid by Hamilton -based company, North View ',\ indows and Doors. County council must endorse the motion before the work moves ahead. SEND OFF Cheers to you, Dr. Martin Salt- er, will be the theme of a tea so- cial at the Huronview Home for the Aged in Clinton this July. Homes administrator Barb Springall reports the event will be held to give thanks to Dr. Salter who is moving from the are: t. She adds the good news is Salter will be bring- ing along his replacement to the event. NEW GAZEBO A new gazebo, valued at $15,368, will find a home at Huronlea in Brussels this year thanks to a motion ap- proved by the committee of the whole. County council must en- dorse the motion, which calls for the tender to go to Gerald Excel Carpentry of Brussels, before the work moves for- ward. celebrate remember fight back t 4 4 LAY iikFORM aw 5)3 Csinadims Cower Society kirittd t.Q.ewnnr ap contrr RELAY FOR LIFE in Huron County (Goderich) June 19 - 20, 2009 TEAM CAPTAINS' RALLY Monday, June 1 7:00- 8:00 p.m: Boston Pizza 490 Huron Road, Goderich For more information or to register a team, visit cancer.ca/relay call .1 800 294-0086 or visit the Toronto Dominion Bank in Goderich to pick up your Team Captains' kit Bell Event Sponsor 110C sit rvi Media Sponsors Boston Pizza Vanden Heuvel Structures Supporting Sponsors A celebration of survival, a tribute to the lives o loved ones and a night of fun, friendship and fundraising to beat cancer. In lauding the project, homes administrator Barb Springall notes the Huronlea volunteer auxiliary deserve a great deal of praise for their efforts in fund- raising for the gazebo.. NEW POLICY The county's homes for the aged will soon have a new Vio- lence in the Workplace Policy in place, which includes a Code White, thanks to a recommenda- tion endorsed by the committee of the whole. In appearing before council- lors May 19, Homes workers Connie Townsend and Wendy Boogemanns, both of the health - and -safety committee, report the policy will include the imple- mentation of mock exercises so staff can practice how best to handle potentially violent situ- ations. In making the pitch to coun- cillors, both women noted there was an event in January that could've proved explosive. Townsend says the policy will allow staff to ensure there are measures in place if a potential- ly violent or unusual event takes place at one of the homes. Townsend adds the draft of the policy is one of the changes coming at the heels of an in- quiry held into the murder of Windsor nurse Lori Dupont by a Windsor doctor. The woman had long been a harassment victim of the doctor before he attacked and killed her in a Windsor hospital in November 2005. The doctor, Marc Dan- iel, later took his own life. Photo by Denny Scott London band visits Goderich school The St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School band put on a show for Robertson Memorial Public School stu- dents on Wednesday at the. high school. Above Kara Ruici of the Intermediate Concert Band plays the flute.