The problem is that there does not appear to be enough volunteer capacity to justify the $100,000.00 expenditure. The Spec reports that last year, only 172 households were able to receive this service which translates to $581.40 per household. See full story here
Despite that, the program has been renewed with a plan to increase the volunteer base to make the program more viable and effective.
Councillor Bernie Morelli, stressed the Snow Angels program will become especially important in the coming years as our population ages. He added, "We need to challenge ourselves to recognize that this is a major need." In my view, kudos to Councillor Morelli !
Do you believe the program is worth saving? If anyone knows how one would go about signing up to be a volunteer snow angel, can you post the details on this blog? It would be a good opportunity to help strengthen the volunteer base.
While I think that is important to address the issues of the aging population and the fact that they do not have the physical capabilities to remove the snow or that their finances may not enable them to pay someone to remove the snow, there are other things to think about.
ReplyDeleteI found it sort of questionable that Ms Lubbrick would target those new comers, who may be accessing social assistance as a form of labour. Considering the push that OW is making in pushing those receiving OW to volunteer, I and others have concerns that people may be given the impression that if they do not volunteer that they may lose the money they are receiving.
I mean is it any different then the various programs, the job developers of the various agencies, who make deals with employers, that push people into low wage jobs, that they may not be paid for a numbers of weeks, as they deem this as training. You are told that if you do not accept these terms, you are cut off Ontario Works, so it is not a long step to think that people in the community who do not want to volunteer could be threatened in the same fashion.
I would think that the program is well worth keeping in place, and developing. There is a need for this and I believe that there are more than enough potential volunteers who would be happy to participate.
ReplyDeleteMy question is the $100,000 tab - Volunteer Hamilton may need to rethink their strategies as regards publicity for the program. That financial cost seems excessive to me - as a volunteer with Out of the Cold, there is definitely not that kind of money, or ANY money actually, spent to get volunteers and that effort happens virtually every day from November to March.
I would definitely agree that the threat to cut off OW if recipients do not become a snow angel is entirely inappropriate.
>>>The problem is that there does not appear to be enough volunteer capacity...
ReplyDeleteOne way to develop a sustainable capacity could be to solicit and appointing one volunteer "neighbourhood angel" for each of these communities: www.map.hamilton.ca/Static/PDFs/General%20Interest%20maps/Overall%20City/NeighbourhoodBoundaries.pdf
Around a 100+ neighbourhood "Angel coordinators" would be needed to cover the city. They in turn could identify the most vulnerable seniors in their individual neighbourhoods and assess their needs in advance of the snow season, and develop unique neighbourhood strategies to attract and retain the optimum number/kind of volunteers required for their local needs.
These 100+ neighbourhood "angel coordinators" could be equipped with a quick training program and webtools to interact with the Snow Angel Center thru the season - They could receive local inquiries and direct their local neighbourhood volunteers to service local needs as they arise. There could be a redundancy built into the network to ensure that all calls are answered.
This entire angels network could be publicly thanked every spring for their efforts at a gala evening - and maybe even their top performing angels of the year could be treated to a week in Cuba, courtesy of a few private sponsors.