In The News
City of Kawartha Lakes has inched closer to the Ministry
of Health and Long-Term Care's recommended number
more...
Weekly lunch specials presented by Community Care Health
and Support Services have returned to Victoria Park Armoury
in Lindsay.
more...
Lindsay Post 2009-07-29
KLTW 2009-07-03
Community Care and Mental Health Association can build now they have more funding
more...
KLTW 2009-07-03more...
The Community Health Centre (CHC) for the City of
Kawartha Lakes continues to move forward towards becoming a
reality.
more...
An organization such as Community Care would not be able to provide the services and support that it does without the invaluable contributions made by so many volunteers
throughout each and every year.
more...
News Stories
- Evolving agency
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Diverse CHC programs
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Partnerships will be key
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Utilizing interdisciplinary care
City receives $8.2 m for two housing projects
We realize that these dreams are a culmination of a vision that just doesn't go away."
Community Care and Mental Health Association can build now they have more funding
Date: 2009-07-03
By Catherine Whitnall
Years of hard work is finally becoming a reality
thanks to an $8.2-million injection by the
provincial and federal governments.
MP Barry Devolin and MPP Rick Johnson were joined
by representatives from the local Canadian Mental
Health Association and Community Care for the
funding announcement made today (July 3).
"I know how hard people in this community work to
make these projects a reality," said Mr. Devolin.
"This announcement today is really a tribute to
Community Care and the CMHA who have just kept
plugging away...I think it's a real testament to the
Kawartha Lakes and the organizations we have in this
community."
The funding, split between the provincial and
federal governments, is part of the Canada-Ontario
Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which includes
funding through Canada's Economic Action Plan,
explained Mr. Devolin. The stimulus funding has
essentially "opened up spigots to funding that had
previously been closed," Mr. Devolin added.
This first wave of funding will lead to
construction by September, said Mr. Johnson, who
looks forward to more units being built during the
life of the program.
He noted the announcement is especially rewarding
for him given the tour of agencies hosted by the
United Way for the City of Kawartha Lakes held
earlier this year during the provincial campaign.
Mr. Johnson said the "eye-opening" tour provided
crucial insight into "the needs of the community."
"We received an in-depth view of what's needed,"
said Mr. Johnson citing the tour took everyone past
the site of the CMHA's affordable housing complex on
Hamilton Street where the announcement took place.
"It's great, today, to stand here and say it's
going to happen."
An initiative three years in the making, the
mental health housing complex will contain 18 units
- 16 which are wheelchair accessible and two which
are completely modified, said CMHA local board
chairman Steve Oliver. The units will add to the
agency's inventory of 55 existing units.
This is not the first time the project has
received support. Early on, the CMHA received a
$100,000 donation from Rexton Commercial Realty
Advisors to "set the tone" of the project. The group
had hoped support from local sponsors, anonymous
donors, assistance from the City and various
fundraisers would be enough to fund the project
locally.
However, Mr. Oliver noted, in order to do it
right, the agency needed a "hand up" in order to
fill "huge gaps."
"For the provincial and federal governments to
step up is just phenomenal," said Mr. Oliver.
Community Care executive director Valmay Barkey
was equally thrilled with the funding which will
help bring the dream of mixed income housing to
fruition.
"Developing affordable aging-in-place housing has
been a quest for many years," said Mrs. Barkey. "We
realize that these dreams are a culmination of a
vision that just doesn't go away."
The funding will support 51 affordable housing
units, at the corner of Victoria Avenue and
Melbourne Street. Forty will be designated for
seniors and the remainder for persons with
disabilities. An addition 19 market rent units will
also be built. The waiting list will be managed by
the City.
"We really appreciate the federal and provincial
governments' recognition of how difficult it is for
non-profit agencies to build something like
affordable housing without additional financial
resources that are needed to make a project viable.
This is clearly a recognition in response to that
understanding," stated Mrs. Barkey.
Community Care will also seek funding for support
services in the building from the Central East Local
Health Integration Network so that it is possible
for tenants who have compromised or declining health
to live independently with dignity.
Mayor Ric McGee was thrilled to be part of the
announcement, citing city council has been "right
behind this" for years, but it is difficult to ask
the taxpayers to shoulder the cost.
"This is a partnership. This is what communities
are all about. This is how all levels of government
are supposed to work," said Mayor McGee.
Kawartha Lakes Accessibility Advisory Committee
member and Ward 5 Coun. Steve Strangway was equally
pleased with the announcement, noting accessible,
and affordable,..Accessible housing is so important
to the City of Kawartha Lakes and its residents. Our
waiting lists are too long," Coun. Strangway told
This Week.
