Two community groups are getting grants in aid from the District of Houston but not without first a discussion among council members when they met March 19.
The discussion centered around the $25,000 the District has set aside for its 2024 grants-in-aid budget and how much would be left should the District agree to give $14,000 to Houston Link to Learning and $5,000 to Branch 249 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“Giving up $19,000 on the third month of the year, that’ll be a concern,” said Councillor Troy Reitsma.
Chief administrative officer Madeline Swift noted that the grants-in-aid policy is such that requests are considered as they are made and not by establishing a deadline date for all requests to be submitted.
She said proposed changes to the policy could be presented at the next council meeting for councillors to consider.
And interim corporate services officer Karen Hogstead suggested that the Houston Link to Learning request could be halved to $7,000 while the District worked with the group to find other grants.
Councillor Tom Stringfellow spoke passionately in support of both requests.
“These are the vulnerable ones,” he said of the people served by Houston Link to Learning and the Legion. “We’ve got people that need this assistance.”
“I just think the money’s there and [we should] proceed,” he added.
In the end, council agreed to provide $5,000 to the Legion and $14,000 to Houston Link to Learning.
The Legion’s request for $5,000 is so that it can continue its shuttle service for seniors needing to go to medical appointments or who need groceries and prescriptions delivered.
“Requests from seniors for rides have tripled over the past 18 months and our budget has depleted,” branch president Ambrose Kelly wrote to the District of Houston council.
“We are anxious as many seniors do not have spare funds to pay for a ride and Houston does not have another service provider.”
“We would like to continue providing this essential service for the community of Houston however we cannot do it alone.”
Statistics provided by Kelly show that 80 per cent of the trips are to the medical clinic, pharmacy and grocery shopping while 10 per cent are for seniors visiting family and friends.
The Legion provides an average of 100 rides a month and for paid rides charges $10 per trip, divided equally between fuel costs and maintenance and driver pay.
Branch 249 began its shuttle service in 2016 as one for veterans, gradually expanding to include seniors.
Rides are free within the District of Houston and asks for a donation for trips to Smithers, Terrace and Prince George.
In 2021, the service began delivering meals twice a week to seniors through Houston Link to Learning’s ‘Better at Home’ program.
And it did receive a grant from a District of Houston time-limited program to aid local groups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A much used meal program offered by Houston Link to Learning is in need of a grant as of April, the non-profit services agency has told council.
Health Canada had been financing the program but that contract is ending the end of March and although an application has been made to a new program Houston Link to Learning doesn’t know if it will be successful.
“The reality is that we may not hear about the new contract, one way or the other, until around May and any new funding may not start until August or September,” Houston Link to Learning executive director Marian Ells wrote to council.
Ells sketched out a five-month plan from April to August in asking the District for $14,000 to finance two months of meal program operations.
Houston Link to Learning already has $7,000 for one month and is asking the Dungate Community Forest for $14,000 for the remaining two months.
Statistics provided by Ells show that from its start in 2021 by distributing 40 take out meals on a Monday and 60 to 80 on a Thursday, demand has risen to 80 to 120 on a Monday and 160 to 200 on a Thursday.
“We freeze any leftovers to hand out between food kitchens so we are easily reaching 300 meals a week,” Ells said.
Some of those using the service now eat in at Houston Link to Learning’s facility.
Ells said Houston Link to Learning’s emphasis is on community service.
“Access is open to all and we actively work with other service providers in our community to achieve that,” she wrote.
“Our focus is providing services to our most vulnerable community members.”