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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ MARCH 16,2005 ♦ PAGE 3 durtiamregion.com (Capital costs half the battle for local shelters ^Advocates say |$2 million Bis not enough ffito bridge gap BY JULIAN FOLLERT Staff writer ' DURHAM -- This week's announcement of $2 million in government funding to help women's shelters make capital improvements was greeted with equal helpings of praise and criticism criticism from local advocates. Wendy Leeder, shelter services director at Y's Wish in Oshawa, said the $304,000 earmarked for agencies in the central east region, falls short of addressing the real gap. "It's capital funding, which means it will assist facilities that need to fix security systems or put in new windows... things like that," she explained. "That's a good thing and we appreciate it. But on the flip side, it's not operating operating dollars, which is what we need most." Ms. Leeder said the government would have done better to simply let agencies decide how to use the money, instead of designating it for capital projects only. In her address March 8. Community Community and Social Services Minister Minister Sandra Pupatello said the funds will help 98 shelters make building repairs and install safety features like parking lot cameras, bullet-resistant doors and motion sensors. "These funds will allow people who help women and children fleeing violence to spend more time providing counselling and care, and less time tlying to find the money to fix the fridge, the roof or the furnace," she said. Ms. Leeder noted that stalf at Y's Wish will still spend a lot of time fundraising, as it becomes increasingly challenging to scrounge up their share of annual operating costs. According to the Ministry, shelters shelters are responsible for about 20 per cent of their operating costs, which include everything from hydro and water bills, to food and employee salaries. While the McGuinty. government government introduced a 3-per cent operating raise after being elected, cost-of-living increases absorbed most of those funds. "We have to fundraise between $100,000 and $140,000 every year to cover our share of operat ing costs... and that's just to maintain maintain the status quo," Ms. Leeder said. "In Durham Region it's getting getting more difficult for us to do that, with the new university, the cancer centre and all the other agencies that need funding." But there's no doubt the need is there. At Clarington's Bethesda House, 21 of the shelter's beds are in use, while only 15 are funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. That creates a significant financial strain on the facility itself to make up the shortfall. The story is the same at Osha- wa's Denise House shelter, where Executive Director Sandra McCormack estimates that they will have to fundraise $158,000 to break even on this year's $ 1.6- million operating budget. "Capital project money is graciously graciously accepted, but just because we can fix the roof doesn't mean we can pay the hydro bills or do other things needed to operate day-to-day," she said. "It's getting harder and harder for us to make ends meet." Denise House will be hosting its annual fundraising dinner April 20. For information, call 905- 728-7311. Municipality seeks public's input on Newcastle parkette NEWCASTLE -- What do you want to see in your park? That's the question the Municipality Municipality is asking Newcastle residents, residents, as planning begins for the Brookhouse Parkette. The parkette will be located on a .44-hectare site at the east end of Edward Street at Brookhouse Drive. It's included in Clarington's not-yet-approved 2005 capital budget and, if approved, construction construction will begin this summer. The Municipality will gather public input on features residents would like to,see in the parkette at a public meeting on Tuesday, April 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Newcastle Community Hall's third-floor meeting room. The hall is located at 20 King Ave. W. Anyone unable to attend but wishing to provide comment can contact Peter Windolf via e-mail at pwindolf@clarington.net, by phone at 905-623-3379, ext. 201, or by fax at 905-623-9282. r TABRICLÆND V CANADA'S LARGEST ^ FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR ^ Notice Of ANNUAL MEETING OF ALL ^MEMBERS OF THE BOWMANVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA DATE: Tuesday, March 22,2005 TIME: 7:30 p.m. PLACE: Resource Centre, Courtroom #1, 132 Church St., Bowmanville The meeting's agenda will include a vote to approve the budget for 2005. 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