Shelter from poverty's storm; Help needed from province, Ottawa as need for emergency shelters grows in city

from the Peterborough Examiner

Posted By NICOLE RIVA

City council further discussed the city's near-crisis situation when it comes to poverty last night.

Prior to accepting an update from the mayor's action committee on poverty, council heard a presentation from a local activist and council expressed the need for help from both the provincial and federal governments.

"We have to be ready to how we're going to report this to the community and deal with this," said Coun. Doug Peacock. "We've got to come up with solutions to this issue."

Peacock, chairman of the committee, said the issues cover everything from the hostels to the warming room and adequate health care.

"Adequate shelter provisions remains the most urgent need," said Carol Winter. "There are still people being evicted, and there's no longer any backup accommodation in the city."

Winter also told council that financial troubles have brought Cameron House under the umbrella of the Brock Mission and forced a significant cutback in staffing.

"I was told Cameron House had been declared bankrupt and Brock Mission was keeping it running, which is why staff had to be reduced," Winter said.

She spoke highly of some of council's efforts, including the Warming Room and how it has helped at least one person gain access to social services, but urged council take a more active role in addressing poverty.

To further emphasize the issues, she said last night there were two men the shelters were unable to house and one was sent to Cobourg while the other - who Winter said could not leave the city - was going to sleep in a stairwell.

"We need effective back-up systems so shelter staff are able to arrange a local alternative," Winter said.

There was no argument from council that poverty is something that needs to be addressed, but several councillors weren't sure what else they could do.

"I think that poverty is a national problem, and I don't want to raise expectations beyond what we can afford," said Coun. Bob Hall. "I think there is a role for the provincial and federal government and there needs to be some pressure."

Hall requested the information on spending for discretionary benefits - used to support non-obligatory programs such as the Warming Room - which was about $210,000 and the hostel program budget for 2008 is set at $142,000 .

"The City of Peterborough is doing everything possible and taxpayers are helping eradicate poverty," Hall said. "I don't want to start programs and next year not have the funding for them.

One problem council discussed is that many people released from the Lindsay jail end up in Peterborough.

"I just think Coun. Peacock has tried to get all the issues out there that seem huge and unattainable, " Coun. Patti Peeters said.

"We need to communicate to federal and provincial governments if they're going to build these types of entities they're going to have to help us with this burden."

The updated report on poverty will go to the city-county joint services committee next week. The action committee will meet again on Friday.