March 31, 2006 • Chrysalis gets massive cash infusion
The Weekender — By Tamara de la Vega
The Chrysalis women’s shelter in Huntsville is one giant step closer to
becoming a reality thanks to a $700,000 contribution from senior levels
of government.
The funds will flow through the District Municipality of Muskoka, which applied for the money through a new Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
The municipality received a letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Gerretsen on Tuesday, giving the funding allocation a green light.
While news of the funding appears to have caught District of Muskoka chair Gord Adams by surprise, he was pleased with the announcement when he learned of it Wednesday through staff and project supporters such as Huntsville and District councillor Fran Coleman and co-chairs for the Chrysalis capital campaign Elizabeth Rice Aben, Scott Aitchison and Claude Doughty.
The funds are being earmarked for the 10 unit-transitional housing component of the project, explained Rice Aben. “The announcement of this funding is perfectly timed because the building season is coming and this gives us an opportunity to get the
tender out there and choose a builder,” she said.
Coleman, who sits on the District of Muskoka community services committee, said the transitional component of the project speaks to the need for affordable housing in the community.
“People going from the shelter to finding a place to live need that transition so it’s really affordable housing units, but they’re attached to the shelter,” she said.
Coleman spearheaded the funding application. “Having been involved at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Affordable Housing Task Force, it gave me the opportunity to realize that they were looking for projects of this type,” she said.
Aitchison said that while the outpouring of support by community members has been great, additional volunteer and monetary help is still required to help Chrysalis get off the ground.
“There is still a little more money to raise but this puts us [close to] the top,” said Aitchison, adding that the funding means the project is a definite go.
“We can make this happen,” added Doughty who also said tenders will go
out next week.
Joy McCormack, executive director of Muskoka Interval House in Bracebridge, which will be affiliated with the Huntsville shelter, said the letter announcing the funding bodes well for the shelter’s operation.
“This is just the most terrific news. This is not just a building, but it is a program to assist people. The support in this letter from the Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello is quite obvious and I’m thrilled,” she said. “I think that they have the picture of what’s needed in our community and they are prepared to
fully support it.” |
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