E-mail: alex@richmondfoodbank.org
Phone: (604) 271-5609

Richmond Caring Place

RPRC has signed on in support of the Living Wage Campaign and we are starting the new year with an update from Michael McCarthy Flynn.  Plan to be at our meeting.  Guests are welcome – bring friends and colleagues.  The Living Wage for Families Campaign aims to address the impact of low wages by educating the public and decision makers in Metro Vancouver as to the value of paying a living wage and encouraging employers both public and private to become Living Wage Employers.

As always an RSVP is appreciated: info@richmondprc.org

Present: John Roeder, De Whalen, Alex Nixon, June Humphrey, Cecilia Hudec, Bessie Li, Janice Lambert, Margaret Dixon, De Whalen, Lynda Brummitt (staff)

Chair: Janice Lambert

Recorder: Bessie Li

1. Introductions and speakers
   This meeting started with a presentation from Volunteer Richmond Information Services, as a follow up to our discussion at the October meeting regarding the need for a wallet size resource card for community people who on occasion work with people in crisis.Presenters – Sydney Kuo, Marcia Mackenzie (Childcare Resource & Referral) and Carol Dickson (Seniors Information and Referral) – see details of presentation at end of minutes.
   
   Advice and discussion regarding our project idea:
   If doing a wallet card, make sure the Volunteer Richmond Info Services phone number or website is present.
   What information is most helpful? – depends on crisis- housing/food/income – individual needs vary so widely, so personal voice-to-voice connection is important to facilitate connecting to most appropriate top 2-3 organizations The hope of VRIS is that they are the 2nd-last place a person needs to visit. The art of I & R cannot be replaced, but the card is another resource.
   
   After hours: VRIS does not have an after-hours service; CHIMO after-hours is what everyone is relying on. MCFD provides an after-hours line, but in the case that we heard about last month, there was difficulty finding the correct phone number.
   
   De: Generation Next – retired professionals, needing people power, the retired 50+ crowd to help launch, it’s not operational yet, but in development.
   
   Summary:
   If we were to do the project, keep it simple and target the community point people
   • Ministers and who else? What info would help them?
   • An after-hours card mostly? Shelter list and also the MCFD line? the double-headed problem of finding shelter and then getting there
   • an opportunity to allow faith groups to be involved
   • Subcommittee to be set up: talk to point people and bring the info back…
   • an 8.5” X11” poster to be made that can be posted, to go with wallet-sized card
   • When ministers change, and when new people rotate, youth pastors and associate pastors, most churches have more than 1 staff member, how do we reach all of these people?
   • Where are the community bulletin boards? A lot of them are contracted and the contractors come and clear the board once/week, Richmond Centre has a big bulletin board where Sears is…
   • there is an Emily Carr student who is interested in designing the card’s graphics, all we need is the information that goes on them
   • next steps: chart out tasks and include input of community point people, De will talk to Margaret Cornish.
2. Agenda approved as circulated
3. October minutes approved as circulated. They will be posted to website.
4. Gaps in services
   Volunteer Richmond support person cut . Seniors without family/friends, need help to fill out forms, need someone to walk through the access of services, etc. Example: June working with a person with dementia and it is difficult to elicit information for completing forms.
   
   Richmond Health Advisory Committee – feedback at public meeting identified the need for a “navigator” to help people work through the system when receiving treatment. There is a decrease in services that will be needed more with an aging population – volunteer drivers for medical appointments, home visitors, phone call services as a few examples.
5. Project Coordinator’s Report
   Homeless Connect- about 40 volunteers for the day of the Homeless Connect day, 13 on planning committee, 27 providers of services, 15 people with agencies that had displays. Financial support included $500 from Homeless Action Week fund, $100 Emmanuel Community Church, Coast Capital gave $150, $500 Sunrise Rotary Fun. Had some expenses not normally encountered because of short planning period. At Homeless Connect new connections are made, or connections are re-made for those attending. There were 21 men and 6 women served, but not everyone who attended is captured in these numbers. St. Alban’s seems to work a people who are homeless are familiar with the shelter and those who are not are introduced to the location.
   
   Extreme Weather Shelter- had 2 training session for volunteers, an orientation for the St. Alban’s shelter specifically – over 40 volunteers attended.. Diane, CHN gave presentation on MH populations, how to work with them,etc. Larry wants to have 60 or so volunteers on the roster as another cold winter predicted. They are hiring a food coordinator for 2 hours/day while shelter is open. Four people indicated interest.
   
   Richmond Homeless Homelessness Coalition- visioning meetings done, terms of reference continue to be developed, will be staying with 2-meeting format, next meeting: Dec. 13th Tuesday at 1500 hours, and again an evening meeting, terms of reference aimed to be finished by January
   
   Rental Connect- Funding received for this project today. An application has been made to BC Housing for Renal Connect to be an Access Point (one stop shop) for subsidized housing applications. Concern expressed regarding using volunteers as there is a database that requires personal security passwords that would have to be changed each time a volunteer left. The other aspect of Rental Connect is creating a housing directory for Richmond of affordable rental basement suites, apartments, etc. Chimo is developing a Rental bank to help people with security deposits, utilities, etc . Rental Connect and a rental bank are a good fit.
   
   Living Wage- Open Letter to Municipal Candidates – Richmond Poverty Response Committee is now listed on the website as a supporter.
   
   Link re: Coalition for Migrant Workers
   https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B8kyFINxxjGCM2E2MmQ2MDAtMTBkMS00ZDE0LWI2ZDktNDEyMzY1OThkOGVm&hl=en&pli=1
   
   Cecilia will bring this initiative back to our table after the coalition as decided their next steps.
   
   Announcements from Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee- Salvation Army needs volunteers for their their kettle campaign (most of donations received are throught this initiative. It has had trouble getting volunteers to do shifts in recent years, they have some capacity to pay, if needed. Contact Richmond office.
   
   Garrett Holmes – new pastor at Towers Baptist Church, would like to get church involved in community mission, connected with Lynda, told her a bit about their facility, has room, shower and kitchen. They are in the planning stages, considering personal packs, drop-in showers and making soup available, etc. Will start slowly and see how it goes.
   

6. Task Force Reports
   a. Finances- received $10 000, from Vancity for the Rental Connect project. Like other PRC projects we will work with the community to develop this model then hopefully find an agency willing to take it on once it is developed.
   
   b. Affordable Housing Task Force –during the development of Richmond Homeless Coalition AHTF will continue to meet quarterly to monitor the development. At some future point it is anticipated that AHTF will fold as the Richmond Homeless Coalition becomes fully developed. Next AHTF meeting is January 18th, 2012
   
   c. Transportation Task Force – Meeting this coming Saturday at Minoru. De attended the November meeting Richmond Seniors‘ Planning table. PRC hasbeen invited to join. Seniors alternate transportation is a concern of this table. The United Way has funded STAR (Seniors Transporation Access and Resources who are developing a business model to help agencies provide trasnprotation to their services for Seniors. STAR is an initiative of BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transporation) Transportation as a needed service was featured in “Boomer Angst” series in the Province. The North Shore Go Bus is an example of an alternative transporation service for seniors.
   
   d. Communications – a temporary poisiton is now possible to help out while Robin is on sick leave. De has offered to create a job description and then a job posting can be circulated.
7. Community Notices
   Fair Trade Fair event on Dec. 3rd, 2011– PRC invited to have a display. Our display board was updated for the Salmon Festival. It will be checked to make sure the information is current and will be set for information.

   Richmond Women’s Resource Centre– 35th anniversary gala went off really well made $3600.

   Family Place Fundraising – Janice reported that they are going to focus on 2 major events per year – raffle and also golf tournament. She has tickets for the raffle which run until March

Next meeting: Thursday, December 8th, 2011 @ 1630 hours

Potluck at Deneanne’s.

Presentation by Volunteer Richmond Information Services
Presenters – Sydney Kuo, Marcia Mackenzie (Childcare Resource & Referral) and Carol Dickson (Seniors Information and Referral)

Volunteer Richmond Information Services (VRIS) – provides information services and maintains database that is available on-line http://www.yourlibrary.ca/findall/community/csd.cfm. Database is updated annually, and tries to ensure that it’s as up-to-date as possible, people welcome to contact VRIS front desk to be put in contact with most appropriate person. The difference between BC 211 and VRIS – they mainly serve people in Richmond,

Child Care Resource and Referral Information – child care, support for child care providers, provided with home visits, not an affiliated licensing body, for parents, one of most important pieces of info, providing info on Child Care subsidies, also have a specialist filing forms and faxing them through, provide parents with training, and with support groups and network groups, Mandarin-speaking group for example is providing the English-speaking drop-in

Seniors Information – works with seniors, provide information and also how to promote people staying on at home, more than passing on a piece of information, they explore other possible needs such not filing income taxes, not able to provide for basic physical needs, housing, home support, transportation, loneliness, gambling & drinking other programs. There is a senior peer counseling and senior peer support program, support for caregivers, I & R for all of those, people helping their neighbours, wellness clinics and through community centres.

Shelter Information – VRIS gets an updated list of where spaces are twice a day, as does CHIMO

Information booth at the Richmond Food Bank, every Thursday with volunteers stationed there, and also at Richmond Centre.

INFORMATION RESOURCE FOLDERS – copies are available. If you would like one, see Lynda Brummitt

The meeting will be held at the home of Bruno Vernier
Please contact Alex Nixon for directions
E-mail: alex@richmondfoodbank.org
Phone: 604-271-5609

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting
4. Formation of Richmond Homelessness Coalition – Homes for All – update
5. Homeless Connect 2011 – update
6. Rental Connect update and discussion
7. Other business
8. Next Meeting – April 18th at Caring Place 5:00 – 6:30

Affordable Housing Task Force Minutes – September 2011

September 21st, 2011 – Caring Place

Present: Wendy Meloche, Deneanne Quamme, De Whalen, Sina Le Page
Staff: Lynda Brummitt

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Agenda – approved as circulated.
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting – approved as circulated
4. Formation of Richmond Homelessness Coalition – Homes for All
   On July 12th a meeting was held of the many groups and volunteers in Richmond working with homeless in some capacity. The invitation is open but the list of invitees was based on the members of PRC Affordable Housing Task Group, Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee (RCSAC) Housing Group and the former PRC Faith Community Housing Group. As a result of this meeting it was decided that people who are homeless in Richmond would be better served if the various groups work together. The coalition name includes the phrase “Homes for All” to allow for use of the broader definition of homelessness and to also expand to include affordability which the Richmond Affordable Housing Strategy covers. It was decided that the first activity would be to hold the 3rd annual Richmond Homeless Connect Event and a subcommittee was formed and the first meeting was held in August 11th.The Coalition met again on September 20th at 3:00. This time met it difficult for those who are volunteers to attend due to the time. There were also agenda items that were difficult for the newer members to follow (i.e. the Housing Partnership Initiative funding). It was suggested that we need to establish a terms of reference to iron out the vision/mission of this new group. The October meeting is schedule for Oct 25 at 3:00. Lynda will see about having the time changed to later in the day to accommodate those who would like to attend but are not able to due to their work schedule.
5. Homeless Connect Event – Oct 20th
   As noted in the above item, the Homeless Connect Event will be held again this year on Thursday, October 20th at St. Alban’s Anglican Church.
6. Housing Forum Report
   The Housing Forum Report is posted on the PRC website. Together with RCSAC Housing Group we need to arrange for hard copies for Mayor and Council, MLA’s and MP’s. It is noted the CMHC has recently announced a new Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing Framework, to create affordable housing. On July 7th De Whalen sent an email on behalf of Richmond Poverty Response Committee to the Richmond MP’s and MLA’s about the framework, requesting information on how this funding will roll out in BC.
7. Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee (RCSAC) – Housing Group report
   RCSAC is a committee of City Council. The RCSAC Housing Group has agreed that they will join the Richmond Homelessness Coalition and only meet quarterly to fulfill their obligations under the RCSAC
8. Rental Connect Update
   The funding from Vancity has been approved for setting up a housing registry for Richmond. The grant includes the following activitiesProject summary:
   Build on the RPRC’s successes and continue its ongoing projects and initiatives:
   • Establish a web-based Richmond Rental-Connect registry for low-income residents with a project coordinator available to tenants and landlords by phone and in-person
   • Engage in community outreach and development and building partnerships with multicultural groups, non-profit service providers, and faith groups
   • Support local faith groups in initiatives related to emergency shelter/affordable housing
   • Promote secondary suites as a viable housing option
   • Host community events/presentations and sponsor Affordable Housing Week events
   • Provide leadership and advocacy for Richmond’s Affordable Housing Strategy review
   • Support development of a Richmond Society for Affordable Housing
   • Publish a regular newsletter
   • Develop materials and inform Richmond City Council and other levels of government of needs of low-income residents
   • Encourage use and participation in web-based resources: Low Income Resource Directory (LIRD) and Richmond Shares
9. Other Business – Discussion of future of RPRC Affordable Housing Task force.
   In light of the updates above and the formation of the Richmond Homeless Coalition the future of the Affordable Housing Task Force was discussed. There are benefits to having one community committee instead of the situation that currently exists of many groups working independently of each other. However, there is concern that if the focus of the Coalition is Homelessness that the issues of affordable housing for people/families in the $30,000+ income level will be overlooked. Due to high cost of housing in Richmond, it is difficult for people who are not eligible for subsidized housing or rent subsidies to find safe, affordable housing. It was decided that we would work with helping to form the Coalition, especially in determining a terms of reference that will allow for a broad definition of homelessness that would include people who have income that is above what subsidies allow, but could be a pay cheque for homelessness themselves. This broader definition is also in keeping with Richmond’s affordable housing strategy.DECISION: Our members will attend the monthly meetings of the Richmond Homeless Coalition and will meet quarterly to monitor the progress of the Coalition in relation to the goals/objectives of PRC- Affordable Housing Task Force
10. Next Meetings: of Richmond Homelessness Coalition Oct 25 – Richmond Homeless Coalition, 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Richmond Cultural Centre Board Room (please note change of location) and Tuesday, November 2nd , 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Richmond Cultural Centre in Multipurpose Room behind the concession in lobby of Cultural Centre/Library. This meeting was added for those who are unable to attend meetings during the work day.

Next Meeting of Affordable Housing Task Force – January 18th at 5:00 – 7:00 at Caring Place

The Editor,

Re: “Offshore dollars pose possible cause to poverty rates,” Letters, Nov. 30.

I read with amazement the Nov. 30 letter that raises yet again the persistent notion that offshore dollars skew the Richmond poverty statistics under Statistics Canada because they are not reported to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Since this allegation arises as often as the snow geese come to town, the Richmond Poverty Response Committee in 2009 asked Stats Canada for their view on the reporting of offshore income.

Their response was “the Canada Revenue Agency is quite clear in their documents that worldwide income is to be included when filing.”

They go on to quote the income tax guide in three separate places and state that reportable income includes offshore income, investment income from abroad and alimony, child support and any periodic support from persons not in the household.

If what the letter writer says is true and the poverty statistics are too high, then thousands of households in Richmond must be under-reporting their income.

It is for this reason that I eagerly await the Richmond Family Place and Children First report on child poverty. I am also hopeful that the 2011 Census results will show us a better picture of Richmond’s poverty level than the last census.

It would be a relief to know Richmond does not really have the second highest level of child poverty in B.C. We look forward to the time when Richmond teachers no longer need to keep drawers of food for their hungry students.

We look forward to the time when the Food Bank is not serving over 500 families a week and when there will be no need for five weekly community meals and second sittings as is currently the case.

The foregoing food security statistics are real, in contrast to the letter writer’s anecdotal stories about a student friend and some neighbours. And if she believes Stats Canada statistics are incorrect then it follows that her contacts are not reporting income that by Canadian law, they must report.

Sadly, I believe the poverty statistics are correct. This is a case of people in Richmond continuing to deny that a substantial number of our families live in poverty.

The “offshore income” excuse has seen enough airtime. Let’s work together to make Richmond a better place for all of us. Skeptics, please ask volunteers at the food bank and community meals about what they see.

Volunteers may not be able to cite statistics, but they can tell you who they serve and why. During this season, consider a donation to the food bank or to any of the places of worship that provide community meals.

De Whalen Chair, Richmond Poverty Response Committee

© Copyright (c) Richmond News

Read more: http://www.richmond-news.com/business/Face+folks+poverty+lives+here/5834921/story.html#ixzz1gpFsWRRo

Members of the Affordable Housing Task Force, who wish to, are invited and encouraged to participate with the Richmond Homelessness Coalition – Homes for All.
Richmond Homeless Coalition
There will be a meeting at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm in Room M.1.003.
We will hold the same meeting again at 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, also in Room M.1.003.

“Thank you for attending our visioning meetings this past week (October 25) and the week prior. We are very excited about the progress we are making and hope to have the results put together for you for presentation at our meeting in December. I look forward to seeing you then and thank you again for your contributions.”  Brenda Plant