HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-10-09, Page 9Anti -poverty coalition face
difficult task in Huron
Gerard Creces
QMI Agency
Finding it way to end poverty in 1 luron
County is not going to be an easy tusk,
however; the I luron Anti -Poverty Coali-
tion is on track to tackle the problem
head-on. A special session of the coalition
was ht')d 'i'Ut's(lily, September 24 ill 1llc'
1 luroll County I lealth Unit, with partici-
1l pants brainstorming how to transfer from
immediate relief to long-term sustainable
livelihoods.
Sustainable livelihoods goes beyond
just how much money is in the hank,
encompassing health, social interaction
and safety.
The working group consists of many
food bank, and family services operators
-- people who are on the front lines when
it comes to poverty. The group repre-
sented those who coordinate food sup•
plies, who scrape together what they can
to provide limited assistance for hydro
bills, rent and the like.
All of this as donations taper, funding is
lilt and belts al'(' getting tighter across tin'
county.
For instance, the Wingham Salvation
Arley has just $350101111 Mani) t0 help
people with utilities over the winter.
Meanwhile, their fixxi bank has just taken
on five famlilies.
In Zurich, stall at Blessings say new
polity is needed in order to heli) people
pay tileir hill.
In Exeter, the food hank is taking a new
approach, based on it successful program
in \Voodstock - prepaid cards for grocer-
ies. The client brings the receipt hack to
the food hank. •
Consultants Mary Ferguson and Ryan
Turnbull of Eko Nomos led the day's
workshop, gathering information from
participants to create an action plan
and be prepared for grants and
opportunities.
tVhen it conies to the causes of poverty,
participants all had similar input.
Poor education, no access to transpor-
tation, isolation, generational poverty all
are tactors and challenges that need to be
addressed.
I lowever, much of it is cyclical a per -
sol) may not have access to good food
because they have no transportation.
Utilities may come before groceries. No
transportation means a 1)t'rsoI1 can't
travel to work.
it's it feedback loop the coalition is set
on ending, bringing together a unified
approach to rural poverty. 'that includes
Huron County council briefs
Paul Cluff
Goderlch Signal Star
if you can't make it, let someone
know
Councillors discussed attendance
and letting each other know when they
can't slake a meeting. A full day was
booked at council chambers recently
fur a special presentation: economic
blueprint, sustainability plan and
bridges out of poverty.
Less than half of the 16 councillors
showed up, which didn't sit well with
Warden George Robertson, who was in
attendance. Quorum could not be
established so the meeting was post-
poned. With today's technology it only
takes three or four seconds to let some-
one know, the Warden said.
The Aug. 3 conunittee of the whole
day2 meeting lost quorum when Coun.
'I
er I lessel leg. l iessel said he stayed
as long as he could but had to leave to
get to another meeting.
Coun, Ben Van Diepenbeek said he
budgets time to attend meetings and
others should, too. "If you don't have
time, don't ntn (for council)."
Staff to prepare report on salt
purchasing
The County of i luron has tradition-
ally bought its road salt in Goderich
from Sifto but one councillor suggested
buying focal and not tendering out goes
against the county's purchasing policy.
After a suggestion was aired to
exempt public works from the policy,
Coun. Bernie MacLellan said a failure
to follow policy could show favouritism
and set a bad example.
"I agree, for once, with Coun.
MacLellan;" Robertson said. "We have
to follow policy."
Nell Vincent, a North I iuron council-
lor, said the province has made it
known that anyone has the opportunity
to fulfill contracts.
"I support following policy?'
Public Works manager Dave Laurie
saki road salt has never been tendered.
'the idea of the county not having pri-
ority access to local salt scares him, Ile
said.
Treasurer John Cummings said salt
falls under a non-competitive method
of purchasing and there is language In
the policy to avoid tendering.
CA() Brenda Orchard said staff could
prepare a report and the matter could
he placed on a committee of the whole
meeting In November.
'that carried.
$5,000 for Warden's Fish Fry
Ross 1 iayter of the Lake Smith Con-
servationists presented a cheque for
$5,00( to Robertson for the Warden's
Fish Fry. Total money raised through
the initiative stands at $10,013. The
funds will go towards the 2014 I labitat
for Humanity home build in ['mon
County. Robertson was thrilled to
accept the. donation. "I'm a little
shaken, this is very generous," he said.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 9
Mk N
people living
themselves.
'1110 consultants SI1l'llt the after-
noon learning from people in the
area that are experiencing poverty
first-hand. All of it acids up to the
big picture.
"We continually feel frustrated;"
in poverty
QMI Agency
Blanche Savage, Pam Hannington, Jim Vance and
Janice Dunbar brainstorm Ideas at the Huron Anti -
Poverty Coalition's Sept. 24 workshop.
said Janice Dunbar, community
coordinator at the health (111it.
„'this is such a huge and complex
issue.
"1 low do we trove forward at
the conlnau)ity level?"
The positives from the day,
Turnbull noted, are the agencies
are all eager to work together and
support one another, and under-
stand the complexity of the issue.
'That, he said, is key to increasing
awareness and introducing new
programming to address poverty.
A next meeting will he held in
about it month's time.
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