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FREE Sun-Tribune. STOUFFVILLE ® DECEMBER 1, 2016 THURSDAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY YORKREGION.COM `Shock' after region ends help centre funding LIsa QuEEN lqueen@yrmg.com A senior citizen who never had a chance to go far in school, Norma Smith has turned many times to the Identification Clinic at York Region's Housing Help Centre to help her understand government forms and to assist her filling out paperwork for needed documentation. "They are so handy and helpful to the community," she said. The former nanny and personal care worker is devastated to learn regional government will end its funding next month to the Richmond Hill centre, which helps more than 2,000 low- and moderate-income York Region residents a year. "Oh my God, I don't have the words to say," said Smith, a native of Jamaica, who said staff at the centre have encouraged to her to take adult learning classes. "I am very, very sad, deeply sad. They are like a family to me. It's going to be very difficult for the community." The region is cutting off the $204,230 it provides annually for the ID clinic and the $136,310 it gives for the housing help centre, executive director Mary Ann Proulx said. The region is the sole source of funding for the programs, other than a small amount the facility gets from PowerStream to help low-income residents strugAudi · Porsche European & Asian Vintage Volkswagen Hybrid 138 Sandiford Dr., Unit 5 · 905-642-2886 www.410auto.ca ONLINE at yorkregion.com News, events and information on your desktop, laptop or mobile device In Photos Check out the latest community shots from our photographers www.yorkregion.com/photos Events Calendar Mary Ann Proulx (right), executive director of the Housing Help Centre, confers with client Norma Smith of Richmond Hill, who is upset to hear York Region will cut funding to the centre next month. gling to pay their hydro bills. "I was in shock," said Proulx, adding the centre and clinic are the only services of their kind in the region. "We don't have operating funds to continue. It brings me to tears. I feel really bad for them (clients). They're going to struggle, they're going to struggle even more so." Agencies are aware they must apply annually for funding under the Community Investment Strategy, the region's commissioner of community and health services, Adelina Urbanski, said. Steve Somerville/Metroland See what's happening by visiting our online community calendar. www.yorkregion.com/events "Annually, York Region provides targeted funding to not-forprofit agencies to help deliver projects to low- and moderateincome residents that address service gaps in the community," uReport newsroom@yrmg.com www.facebook/yrmgnews @yorkregion yorkregion.com/ureport See FUNDING, page 7 GOING GREEN AT 410 AUTO 5758 Main St. Stouffville, ON L4A 2T1 (LCBO & Shoppers Plaza) 905.640.4646 · info@Barthau.com