$11 Million for Seniors, Low-income and Disabled Nova Scotians
COMMUNITY SERVICES--$11 Million for Seniors, Low-income and Disabled Nova Scotians
An $11 million dollar investment will help seniors, low-income Nova Scotians and persons with disabilities. Community Services Minister David Morse said today, Dec. 10, funding will go to emergency home repair programs, public housing and vocational day programs.
"After the First Ministers' Meeting, the premier made a commitment to provide some of the new equalization dollars to those in need, and we can now make investments that we've wanted to put in place for some time," said Mr. Morse. "Enhancing these programs will allow us to address the needs of seniors, low- income Nova Scotians and people with disabilities."
The Senior Citizens Assistance Program and Provincial Housing Emergency Repair Program for low-income Nova Scotians will receive $2.7 million. Funding will address the needs of about 1,600 people on the waiting list who currently have approved applications with these programs. Repairs will also include furnace repairs and replacement.
"Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of home ownership in Canada," said Mr. Morse. "Seniors and their families have told us during the task force on aging meetings that we need to do more. These repair programs help lower-income Nova Scotians maintain their independence and stay in their own homes longer."
Public housing units will also receive a facelift with a $4 million investment. Along with interior and exterior upgrades, generators and elevators will be installed in some seniors' buildings.
About $1 million in infrastructure funding for capital improvements will go to vocational day programs for persons with intellectual, mental health and or/physical challenges. Another $1 million will be used to create similar grants for work activity programs for people with barriers to employment. Applications for both grant programs will be available by the end of December from Community Services offices across the province.
A children's wheelchair recycling project will receive $500,000. This program, developed in partnership with the Disabled Persons' Commission, will be implemented to provide wheelchairs to children and allow wheelchair users to trade in a chair they have outgrown or no longer need -- making it available to others.
Finally, $1.8 million will be used to address urgent needs for one-time grant funding for a range of organizations funded by the department to provide services for Nova Scotians in need of supports.