Warming room funding a top priority in fight against poverty, states mayor's report

from My Kawartha

It's Tuesday, about 11:30 a.m. and a small group of people have already found their way to the Peterborough's day warming room.

It strikes as a bit ironic that on the facility's small TV plays the film X-Men; a comic-book based movie about people with mutant powers who are considered outcasts by the rest of society.

But on film the outcasts are heros, while in the real world those watching are not.
A facility that has offered temporary shelter throughout the winter days is in jeopardy of being lost. That is mainly due to the facility averaging 149 people a day, more than double what the Canadian Mental Health Association anticipated when it took over warming responsibility.

The budget has already almost run dry and no one seems to know what to do about it.
At this point it all comes down to money.

“It's a place to go to warm up, have a coffee, a cookie,” says Scott (not his real name).

“I have a place, but I've been really sick the last couple of years. I've been on disability. They're really nice here.”

Bryn Mapstone is the only visitor to the day warming room who is wearing a smile.
He's just come from a job interview with the City.

“I think it's (the warming room) a good place to have. It keeps you out of trouble and if you're feeling lonely or confused, there's counselors here to talk to.”
Mr. Mapstone still has hope. You can see it in his eyes.

But the others look wary and weary, nerves heightened and fears honed from living on the edge.

Councillor Doug Peacock described their plight in a nutshell when he told Monday night's (Feb. 4) Committee of the Whole meeting that the City needs help in the fight against poverty.

“We can't alleviate poverty on our own as a municipality. The Province needs to step up to the plate.”

Coun. Peacock was updating councillors on Mayor Paul Ayotte's Action Committee on Poverty, presenting a report written by Mayor Ayotte who was not at the meeting.
The Mayor has narrowed issues identified during public consultations to six that could be acted upon either immediately or at least, very quickly, and the warming room and its need was at the top of the list.

The other issues raised by Mayor Ayotte are:
• Shelter Services for Adult Women: fill the gap that exists in shelter services for adult women and recommend appropriate funding.

• Dental Health: lobby and support Provincial Government’s intent to invest in dental care for people with limited income.

• Discretionary Benefits: consider an internal review of the Discretionary Benefits program, develop policies and protocols, prioritize benefits.

• Handbook of Local Service Providers: consider the creation of a Handbook of Local Services Providers, establish a central repository and continue to review/close gaps that exist.

• Transportation: consider reduced bus pass rates for people receiving Ontario Works.
As the number one issue, the warming room is under the microscope.

The City had to scrambling late in 2007 to find someone to operate the facility and it wasn't opened until the last week of November.

“This Council is going to have to make some decisions,” Councillor Peacock stated.
He stressed that the City can't leave these kinds of important decisions until the last minute.

The fourth working group of the Poverty Action Committee is the Lobbying Working Group.

It will be meeting with provincial representatives in the near future to ask them for help in addressing poverty issues.

One of the items that will be discussed is the condition of the emergency shelter system, both provincially and nationally.

“I'm of the opinion that per diem funding doesn't work,” says Coun. Eric Martin.
He's especially concerned for the future of Cameron House, a shelter for women and children.

The facility is currently running without a contract with the City while an alternate solution is investigated.

Brock Mission is now officially funded only as a shelter for men.

“I don't know what an easy answer is,” notes Coun. Martin.
“I do know that the Province needs to be stepping forward on this.”