The Lucknow Sentinel, 2013-11-06, Page 5Wednesday, November 6, 2013 • Lucknow Sentinel 5
Bruce County outlines housing challenges in long-term plan
Troy Patterson
Kincardine News
Bruce County's 'National
Day of Housing' outlined the
agency's 10 -year long-term
plan, while addressing chal-
lenges it has faced and what
it expects during the next
decade.
About 80 people turned
out for the Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation
(CMHC) sponsored event at
the Kincardine Beach Pavil-
ion on Oct. 24.
Bruce County chief admin-
istrative officer Kelly Coulter
kicked off the event outlining
the impact housing can have
on families.
"When people don't have
a stable place to live every-
day, it affects their work and
their lives," said Bruce
County chief administrative
officer Kelly Coulter.
Utility costs and arrears
throughout Bruce County
topped the issues facing
social housing in the region
in 2013, followed by a $6-7
million backlog on infra-
structure repairs to the
county housing inventory,
Coulter said.
"We're planning for the
future and delivering human
services," she said. "We're
hoping the communities can
help with this because it's a
community effort."
Bruce County's current
goal to increase its housing
inventory has been 445 new
units, with 122 built since
2010 and they are continuing
towards that goal over the
next decade. They've also
assisted first-time home buy-
ers, second -stage housing,
rent supplement situations
for clients, along with other
situations.
The Bruce County Long -
Term Housing Strategy was
developed in consultation
with victims of domestic
abuse, the disabled, aborigi-
nals, as well as the homeless
and 'at -risk' populations.
Current housing issues
include a growing seniors
population across the region,
which is "higher in Bruce
What a wet and scary
Halloween in Lucknow!
By Ruth Dobrensky
Lucknow News
You must admit, the weather has a lot to do with the kind
of mood everyone has on Hallowe'en. Dismal, wet and/or
foggy weather always makes things seem more scary, espe-
cially for the smaller children. It also forces us adults to be
more responsible when driving around and keeping our eyes
open for children darting around collecting candy.
A recent great event in Lucknow for me was the Five -Star
Quilters Guild 25th anniversary show. The quilts as always,
were beautiful and inspiring. The members of the guild did a
fantastic job and are to be congratulated. Their guest lecturer
Heather Stewart was both informative and frank about what
can go wrong when making a quilt. Stewart said that all her
mistakes help her to help others when teaching how to make
a quilt. Hilda Wales, president and Mary Saunders, past -pres-
ident were pleased with the great turn out and response to
their guilds 25th anniversary show. There are 75 members of
their Guild and any interested in joining would be more than
welcome.
This coming Monday is Remembrance Day and people all
over the world will be commemorating the day in many ways.
Lucknow will be holding a service at St. Peter's Anglican
Church followed by a parade to the cenotaph and the laying
of wreaths and a service led by Lucknow Branch 309's chap -
lin, Rev. Peggy Kinsman. The Legion also holds its Remem-
brance Day Banquet this Saturday night. Don't forget to
thank a veteran and wear a poppy.
Remember this is the season for church bazaars and pre -
Christmas craft shows, get out there and find that special gift
for that special someone who already has everthing they ever
needed, or, buy something homemade in the way of cookies
or jams for those people who can't get out to these great
events and/or who are unable to do their own baking and
jam making anymore.
Sympathy of the community to the families of: David
Colling, 56, Ripley; Catherin Barger, 99, Hanover (formerly
Lucknow); Walter Breckles, 95, Kinlough; Mary McGarvey,
80, RR #2, Ripley; and Ann Ludwig, 51, Waterloo.
County than in many other parts of the
province;' Coulter said.
New housing opportunities are being
concentrated, not diversified, which
also creates challenges, alongside the
limited and niche employment
opportunities.
There are currently 600 social hous-
ing units in 14 different communities.
Maintaining that stock, as well as mak-
ing it 'affordable' to the users is a chal-
lenge, along with the elevated cost of
living in the area.
"Utilities are a significant part of peo-
ple's housing and some people are
really struggling to pay those bills," said
Bruce County Housing's Susan Earle.
Income categories in the region were
also listed. With 870 homes making less
than $12,000 a year. Another 3,000 make
$24,000 or less and 2,780 make $36,000
or less, which demonstrates the need
for affordable housing.
Earle said they're making progress
with public-private partnerships, with
many local developers stepping up to
offer affordable housing units in new
developments. But with so many single-
family homes, "more diversity is
needed."
Earle said they're promoting commu-
nity awareness to garner support for
future affordable housing develop-
ments and are looking to involve non-
profit groups and the private sector to
help meet those goals.
Bruce County is also operating under
a "No Wrong Door" policy, to welcome
the public to ask questions and work to
meet their needs, regardless of what
office they might end up at.
Troy Patterson Kincardine News
Lucknow Danceology member Taylor
Pollard performed an interpretive dance
alongside music recorded by an Saugeen
District Secondary School student after
the presentation.
Limos
Chad Mann
519-357-3015
www.kruzinmannlimos.com
A Division of Lloyd Collins Construction Ltd.
Submitted
Bruce County Housing's Susan Earle addresses a crowd of about 80 people, outlining
the county's 10 -year Long -Term Housing Strategy that was launched during the National
Day of Housing at the Kincardine Beach Pavilion Oct. 24, 2013.
They're also looking to streamline
rules, navigation, enhance program and
financial supports and continue push-
ing for increased funding to meet their
maintenance short -fall.
"We're planning a Housing Annual
Report Card so we can hear about the
things we need to improve, or may have
forgot in our plan," said Earle.
Implementation of the plan will run
through the end of 2013 and into 2014.
Public Health Nurse Karen Croker
gave an outline on the impact on the
health and well-being of the public
caused by the cost of housing.
Things like cost and availability of
food and health care play a role, along-
side people's personal lifestyle choices
and physical activity.
"Some people are getting healthier,
while some are dying younger," Croker
said.
Crime also has a direct and indirect
impact. She said a shelter bed costs
$1,932 a month, versus $4,333 for a jail
cell, $10,900 for a hospital bed, $701 for
rent supplement or $200 for social
housing.
"When hospital beds become home
to some they are not available for peo-
ple with acute needs," she said.
Poor housing has shown that it also
leads to higher incidence of health
impacts and disease, communicable
disease, unhealthy social networking,
sexual and physical abuse, as well as
chronic depression and mental health
disorders.
Developer David Brown said he was
.16.1116sii
Big brother Trent welcomes
the arrival of his sister
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born on September 18th weighing in
at 7 lbs 8.5 ounces and born
at 2:32 pm.
Proud parents are
Rob and Sherri Haldenby.
•
Spoiling privleges go to Russ and Mary Mackie, Tom
and Cathy Nicholson and Barry and Marie Haldenby.
interested in getting a copy of the statis-
tics, so he can work with them to assist
in developing future housing projects.
Realtor Russ Coultrup said the
municipality should focus on getting
natural gas, as it would assist property
owners' energy bills dramatically, as
electric heat is the main culprit in Kin-
cardine's higher cost of living.
Charlene Randle -Clayton said real -
tors can also be "strong advocates" in
raising awareness of the need for afford-
able housing, while helping with ongo-
ing projects.
Bruce County's Terry Sanderson said
with $2 million invested a year in the
housing sector, it is the county's "first
priority."
"We're working on it, but it takes a lot
of money," said Sanderson.
The county is also looking at the pos-
sibility of renovating existing properties
to make housing stock available, as well
as soliciting for donations of land to use
for future affordable housing projects.
For more information visit www.
brucecounty.on.ca/
services-health/social-housing/
C '•
The Lucknow Sentinel
Birthday Club
Erika Gibson
November 8, 2003 - 10 years old
Tyler Drennan
November 8, 2002 - 11 years old
Kyle Hogan
November 11, 2002 - 11 years old
.(Th
•
•
Branson Black
November 11, 2006 - 7 years old
Trent Haldenby
November 11, 2011 - 2 years old
Your child can be a member
of the Sentinel's birthday club
%' call 519-528-2822 to register
Linker Saltine!
619 Campbell Street
519-528-2822
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