Mississauga Learn to Kayak

Mississauga Canoe Club are running a 'Learn to Kayak' event on September 3rd in Mill Pond and will also do a demonstration game of Canoe Polo at noon. See the video on the attached link on YouTube

Social Housing wait list growing

The Champion reported July 14th on last week's Halton Region report released by the health and social services committee showing that the wait list for social housing increased dramatically in 2010 to 2,140 applicants. It is suggested the economic downtown may be responsible for the 9.6% increase over 2009. The article by Christina Commisso indicates that on average applicants wait three years before being placed in a rent-geared-to-income unit. If all applicants stayed on the list it would take 27 years to house them all. It also reinforces our own HSH-M project findings that there are very few one bedroom apartments available for rent.

Halton Regional Grant Application

This week Ruth, Lorna, Carol and I met this week to answer questions from the Halton Region on our grant application for funding to support Home Suite Hope Milton. They are impressed with the detail of our proposal and the value of the project to the community. This does not mean funding will be provided this year but we hope that the Region show there support for the project. Well done team.

Letter from Lisa Raitt

Here is an extract from a letter from Lisa Raitt, MP for Halton dated May 19th.
"I wanted to follow up and congratulate you on the excellent fundraiser for homelessness that you and your colleagues organized on April 30, 2011.
The Home Suite Hope event was wonderful. I was delighted to attend, and to see that you received such a strong turnout. In particular, I thought the “Empty Bowls” theme was extremely creative. Recruiting nearly a dozen restaurants to donate different soups, and providing the attendees with colourful hand-painted, donated bowls brought a fresh energy to your event – and further enhanced your outreach.
In prosperous Halton, it’s sometimes easy to forget that homelessness is a reality in our community, too. But we mustn’t forget, and I’m grateful that there are people like you and your colleagues with the allied Milton churches, who make it a priority to keep our most vulnerable neighbours on our minds, in our hearts, and in the media too.
I believe your fundraiser, like all the Milton Area Christian Churches initiatives, was well-organized, professionally communicated throughout the community, and structured to keep costs low. That speaks very well to your determination that the funds raised will go where they are needed – to the individuals and families who require help finding shelter and rebuilding their lives.
Once again, my congratulations, and please let me know how I can be involved in future events and initiatives you plan in the future."