12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 21, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Region closer to claiming 10 vacant DND homes By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Families in crisis forced to spend the holidays in motel rooms this year, due to a regional shortage of emergency housing, could move into long-term housing by next Christmas. "There are 25 families in motels in Burlington right now. It's a shame," said Oakville The Regional Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca More Blue and Green for a Better Planet Halton Waste Management Calendar coming soon! Your 2008 Halton Waste Management Calendar will be delivered to your mailbox in mid-January 2008. This will be a shorter Calendar than usual. Starting on April 7, 2008, Halton Region will be providing you with more recycling opportunities. You'll receive a new Calendar in March outlining our new levels of waste management services. Councillor Jeff Knoll, who is also president of the Halton Community Housing Corporation. But he was successful in convincing his colleagues at Wednesday's Halton regional council meeting to forge ahead with preliminary plans to take over five to 10 vacant homes owned by the Department of National Defence (DND) at Rebecca Street and Tudor Avenue in Oakville. Before getting the go ahead, Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar and Oakville Mayor Rob Burton successfully lobbied for public consultations prior to any final approval. Regional Chair Gary Carr and Knoll are scheduled to meet with representatives from the Canada Lands Corporation on Jan. 10 "If they (DND) agree to the plan, it will go to public consultation. If not, there is no need to consult," said Knoll. "It's better to go to the public with a plan than nothing. We need to take action now." The Region is calling for help in acquiring the homes from the Canada Lands Company, which manages the transfer of the land for the DND, as well as the National Secretariat on Homelessness and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The site is a 6.8-hectare block at the northwest corner of Dorval Drive and Rebecca Street in Ward 2. Built in the 1950s, it is a former military barracks that was used to house the Canadian Army's Central Command. It closed in 1971 and has remained largely vacant for the past 35 years. Last year the barracks were declared surplus land by the DND. A staff report submitted to the region's Health and Social Services committee in November determined that 20 of the 75 homes are suitable for transitional housing. The local housing corporation wants to lease five to 10 at a nominal cost and spend $50,000 ($5 to $10,000 per unit) toward repairs, renovations and furniture. They will be used for a maximum of two years for families assessed by the Region to be in need. Families are expected to contribute to the cost of upkeep on the units, at a rate based on their income. As detailed in the Region's 2007 Annual Housing Report, currently there are only three apartments available for emergency housing in Halton Hills, four apartments and five motel rooms in Burlington, one apartment unit in Oakville and nothing in Milton. As of December 2006, there were approximately 1,800 applicants on the social housing waiting list, the majority of which are "families facing severe economic difficulties, relationship breakdown and other stresses resulting in the need for temporary accommodation and supports while they work to put their lives back together," states the report. Christmas & New Year's Waste Collection Notice Please Note Collection Day Changes Sunday Dec 23 30 Monday 24 31 Tuesday 25 Wednesday 26 2 Thursday 27 3 Friday 28 4 Saturday 29 5 collection moves collection moves Christmas ORPORATE EVENTS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ARTISTS IN R The CAMPS FOR KIDS LIVE CUISINE RESTAURANT LIVE PERFO EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ARTISTS IN RESIDENCY COMMU VE CUISINE RESTAURANT LIVE PERFORMANCES CORPORATE E ARTISTS IN RESIDENCY COMMU COURSES CAMPS FOR KIDS MISSISSAUGA PERFORMANCES CORPORATE EVENTS EDUCATIONAL WORK Living Arts Centre BIG COMFY COUCH MOLLY'S FULL MOON FESTIVAL Jan 1 collection moves collection moves New Year's Day Saturday, January 5, 2008 1 PM & 4:30 PM Hammerson Hall $17 & up (Kids $3 off ) Due to Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, waste collection services the week of December 25 and January 1 will take place the day after your regular collection day. There is no change to Monday collection. Due to high collection volumes, please place your waste at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Please check your 2007 "Curb Appeal" Waste Management Calendar for details in your area or the Region's Waste Management website at www.halton.ca/waste. WINT BREA ER K! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season as you celebrate with family and friends. Back row: Alan Johnston, Oakville; Tom Adams, Oakville; Rick Goldring, Burlington; Jeff Knoll, Oakville; Keith Bird, Oakville; Barry Lee, Milton; Peter Thoem, Burlington Middle row: Allan Elgar, Oakville; John Taylor, Burlington; Clark Somerville, Halton Hills; Jack Dennison, Burlington; Colin Best, Milton; Rick Craven, Burlington; Fred Oliver, Oakville Front row: Jane Fogal, Halton Hills; Rick Bonnette, Mayor, Halton Hills; Rob Burton, Mayor, Oakville; Gary Carr, Regional Chair; Cam Jackson, Mayor, Burlington; Gordon Krantz, Mayor, Milton; Carol D'Amelio, Burlington There is no place cozier than the Big Comfy Couch. Clown around with Loonette, Molly, Granny Garbanzo, Major Bedhead and the adorable dustbunnies for another exciting adventure. As seen on Treehouse TV, this fun-filled muscial provides singing, dancing and lots of crazy antics with oodles of audience involvement. PERFORMANCE SPONSOR PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR RADIO MEDIA SPONSOR Halton Regional Meeting Schedule January 8 January 9 January 9 9:30 a.m. - Health & Social Services Committee 9:30 a.m. - Planning & Public Works Committee 1:30 p.m. - Administration & Finance Committee 211207 www.livingartscentre.ca TEL: 905.306.6000 OR 1.888.805.8888 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Tel: 905-825-6000 · Toll Free: 1-866-442-5866 · TTY: 905-827-9833 · www.halton.ca 4141 LIVING ARTS DRIVE, MISSISSAUGA ON L5B 4B8 HWYS 403 & 10, WEST OF SQUARE ONE FREE UNDERGROUND PARKING