WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, J UN l'I1. 1986 PAGE 3 Special, needs housing sadly lacking in Whitby By MIKE JOHNSTON Free Prestafi Forty to 50 out- patients fromn the Whit- by Psychiatrie Hospital are released every mon- th yet there are only one or two beds available per month for them in some five to eight boar- ding bouses located in Wbitby. Only 44 percent of Whitby's future households will be able to afford the single detacbed units wbicb currently predominate the housing market in Whitby. Since 1982 the need for apartments in Whitby has remained constant at 26 percent yet the supply of apartments in Wbitby bas decreased from 22 percent in 1982 to il percent in 1986. Since 1985 tbe Town of Wbitby's vacancy rate bas been below one per- cent. Tbese were just some of the facts wbicb sur- faced during tbe ad- ministrative commit- tees two meetings in- vestigating tbe lack of affordablebhousing, beld last Wednesday and Tbursday. Wbile tbe committee, with tbe assistance of the town's planning department, is lookinig into metbods of solving, the problems, commit- tee cbairman .Joe Bugelli noted that realistically a municipal government is not in a position to resolve tbe problem . "IWe can only act as a catalyst to otber gover- naxents," said Bugelli on tbe first nigbt of tbe two evening sessions. The committee. is examining: .ways in wbicb the town may encourage or facilitate special needs and low and moderate income bousing. @tbe factors wicb af- fect tbe supply of affor- dable housing for persons and families witb low and moderate incomes.-' >*tbe demand and sup- ply of special' needs bousing. To tbat end tbe com- mittee solicited tbe response of numerous groups interested in tbe bousing problemn. Some groups decided to sub- mit written briefs with tbeir recommendations and otbers appeared in person at tbe meetings. Representatives of tbe Whitby Psyciatrict Hospital, Social Plan- ning Council of Osbawa and Whitby, Hostel Ser- vices, Seniors and Auberge, a sbelter for* abused women and cbildren, appeared before tbe committee. A representative of tbe patient government FROM PG. ONE at the WPH told the committee that out- patients wbo were lucky enougb to find a bied in a boarding home have complained of over crowded conditions witb sometimes tbree or four in a room; eviction problems, including two women wbo were'evic- ted from tbeir room at 2 a.m. witb no otber place to go, out-patients wbo are not being permitted to handle their, own money. The committee beard that the operators of tbe bomes usually receive the boarder's cheque, have hlm "or her sign it, tben the operator han- dlés the banking. The patient gover- nment recommended to the committee that a wider supply of bousing is needed for the out- patients.. Tbey also recommended that housing, wbere there is belp to adjust to life out- SE E PG.7 A« winning contribution Recipients of the first ever Tom Edwards townbouse units. The couple received a award from the Downtown Business Im- plague fromn the BIA and a llmited edition provement Area are Ann and David painting, presented to tbemn by artist Walter Stapelford. The award is presented for con- Campbell (left). Counillor Tom Edwards tributing to development in .Whitby. The was also on hand for the presentation. copeown the Byron St. N. terrace, Free Press Staff Photo Grant confirms core's promise ded. Buffett stressed tbat the Mainstreet Programi will not require any ad- ditional funding from BIA members wbo voted earlier this year' in favour of a 300 per- cent increase in tbe organization's budget. *"1fls won't impact on our budget. Tbe board decided after we got the increase tbis year tbat any additional funds would be raised outside of tbe membersbip dues. Tbings like a 50-50 draw or watever, " said Buffett. "The merchants have done enough already. Now we sbould be looking at alternative funding» One of the -extras- Buffett would like to see initiated in tbe* near future is the ap- propriation and Ian- dscaping of a parkette somewhere in the down- town. If the -BIA could generate about $10000 tbrough some form of fundraising campaign, he feit the town would be willing to put up the dif- MIWA ARP* AND PEELS 91ohon *Many Colours to Choose f rom *Scotchguard eSanitized @Performance Design *lExcluslve 5 yr. warranty SAVE DUPo*YO ScotahGard SQ. YD. Snf~d Congoleum *A wide variety of colors, design and textures eDurable, no-wax, easy to care for *Protected by Congoleum's excl1usive f ive-year warranty against manufacturing defects S YD: HOURS -iJ Thurs-Fri. 9-9 r l3O5arwbdveN. 683-6126 -'justnortho!fthe40ll ference' required to create such a park in the downtown core. 1Although thé Herîtage Canada grant is officiai, Buffett said represen- tatii'es of the towp., the BIA and Heritage Canada will be getting togetber witbin the 'next week to sign the necessary documents finalizing the agreement. "This wilI really lend our board greater credibility,- said Buf- feti. "In the past when we've talked about the. downtown's potential there were always some people who tbougbt we were talking througb the top of our heads. 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