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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPD-003-13 Clarington REPORT OPERATIONS Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: February 4, 2013 Resolution#: 6,0,q -6S-3-1 By-law#: N/A Report#: OPD-003-13 File#: Subject: SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED SIDEWALK AND DRIVEWAY WINDROW SNOW CLEARING PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report OPD-003-13 be received for information. Submitted by: Reviewed by: Freerjck J.' Horvath Franklin Wu, B.A:;.,R.D.M.R., R.R.F.A. Chief Administrative Officer Director.,of Operations FH/sh January 21, 2013 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 REPORT NO.: OPD-003-13 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND On October 13, 1992 the Council for the Town of Newcastle passed Resolution #C-667-92 which stated: "THAT, in accordance with Council's direction, removal of snow and ice from sidewalks and driveway windrows be provided for senior citizens and the physically disabled..." The Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program has been offered each winter season since. Over time the program was expanded to include Bowmanville and Courtice as well as the surrounding hamlet areas. In 1993 Council approved a motion to include the remaining hamlet areas. In August of 2009 the economic climate caused a budget shortfall requiring Council to take remedial action. At that time Resolution C-575-09 was passed resulting in the cancellation of the Senior Citizens and Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program, On November 9, 2009 in response to residents, Council passed Resolution #C- 664-09 stating: "THAT, the annual administrative fee for the 200912010 Senior and physically disabled Sidewalk/Windrow Snow Clearing Service be set at$60 per registered property." Each subsequent year Council has not increased the fees for this service. - - At the General Purpose and Administrative meeting held on January 13, 2013 - Council passed Resolution G#GPA-015-stating: "That Staff be directed to prepare a report regarding the waiving of the Senior Citizens and The Physically Disabled Sidewalk and Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program fee for Clarington veterans." REPORT NO.: OPD-003-13 PAGE 3 2.0 PROGRAM PARTICIPATION The following chart shows participation levels in the program for the last ten years: Year Number of Sidewalk Windrow Participants (m) (m) 2003-2004 662 12,997 4,023 2004-2005 637 12,465 3,794 2005-2006 627 11,819 3,722 2006-2007 631 12,277 3,747 2007-2008 664 13,136 3,924 2008-2009 781 14,042 4,303 2009-2010 293* 5,535 1,634 2010-2011 276 5,245 1,570 2011-2012 234 6,448 1,877 2012-2013 238 6,690 1,471 *introduction of fee for service Eligibility For residents to be eligible for this service, applicants must be 65 years of age or older or be physically disabled, occupy a single family dwelling which fronts a Municipal street in the specified urban areas or the urbanized areas of the specified hamlet's, and have no able bodied persons under the age of 65 years residing on the property. Senior citizens must provide a copy of a birth certificate or Senior Citizens Number; physically-disabled-applicants-must provide a doctor's certificate. 3.0 VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA In 2001 Veterans Affairs Canada(VAC) adopted a definition of a veteran which read as follows: "VAC and the Department of National Defense (DND) have extended veteran status to former Canadian Forces members and Reserve Force members who meet DND's Military Occupational Classification requirements (MOC qualified); and have been released from the Forces with an Honourable Discharge". Veterans Affairs Canada has the responsibility for pensions/benefits and services for war veterans, retired personnel of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Veterans Independence Program (VIP) The Veterans Independence Program provides veterans financial assistance to help them remain healthy and independent in their own homes and communities. REPORT NO.: OPD-003-13 PAGE 4 The complete list of available services is varied and includes grounds maintenance such as snow removal and grass cutting. Attachment 1 is the VIP brochure highlighting available services and eligibility. VIP participants typically receive $1,300 per year towards grounds maintenance. Once a veteran is approved renewal is automatic for as long as needed. The spouse or caregiver of a veteran has right of survivorship to these benefits. 4.0 BOWMANVILLE LEGION Staff met with Mr. John Greenfield of the Bowmanville Legion to discuss the VIP program and how it might help meet the needs of veterans in our community. Mr. Greenfield has assisted many veterans with the application process and is very knowledgeable on the application process and rules of acceptance. Mr. Greenfield advised that since 2001 VAC has relaxed the rules for acceptance to the VIP and that veterans previously denied benefits under this program should reapply. Assistance is available to any Canadian veteran, regardless of their affiliation with the Legion. Membership is not required to receive aid with either the application process or the VIP itself. Mr. Greenfield feels that Veterans have the opportunity to receive financial assistance from Veterans Affairs. 4.0 CONCLUSION Staff recommends that no changes be made to the current program. CONFORMITY WITH STRATEGIC PLAN — Not Applicable Staff Contact: Susan Hajnik, Operations Technician Attachment 1 To Report OPD-003-13 Veterans Affairs Anciens Combattants Canada Canada ERANS """LPEN ' tNCL ' PROGRAM E v� 4 Canada P .0'1 6`^y" The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is a national home care program provided by Veterans Affairs Canada. The program was put in place in 1981 to help clients remain healthy and independent in their own homes or communities. VIP does not replace other federal, provincial or municipal programs. Instead, it complements these programs to best meet the needs of our clients. VIP is only available in Canada. It cannot be offered to clients who live outside Canada. If you are a veteran and qualify for VIP, the services you receive will depend on your circumstances and health needs. These services - - - - may include: • grounds maintenance, including grass cutting and snow removal; • housekeeping, including help with routine tasks such as doing the laundry, cleaning your home, or preparing meals; • personal care services to assist you with personal needs, such as bathing, dressing, and eating; access to nutrition services, like Meals on Wheels and Wheels to Meals; and in health and support services provided by health professionals. $IEEE • ambulatory health care for certain health and social services provided outside the home, such as adult day care, and travel costs to get to these services; • transportation costs for other activities such as shopping, banking, attending senior citizen centres and churches, and visiting friends when transportation is not otherwise available; • home adaptations to modify things like bathrooms, kitchens and doorways so that it is easier for you to do basic everyday activities such as prepare a meal, keep yourself clean, and sleep. Home adaptations do not include general renovations or repairs; and • nursing home care when living at home is no longer practical and you need a greater level of nursing and personal help. Veterans Most clients who receive VIP are veterans. You may qualify for VIP if you are: a disability pensioner who needs VIP for your pensioned condition(s); a wartime (First World War, Second World War and Korean War) pensioner with a disability that is pensioned at 48% or higher. VIP services will be based solely on need; • a disability pensioner with a number of health conditions that, together with your pensioned condition, places you at risk. In this case, VIP services will be based on need; • a wartime veteran who qualifies because of low income (based on the War Veterans Allowance Act); a totally disabled former prisoner of war; an overseas service veteran; or a disability pensioner who is at home on a waitlist for a Priority Access Bed; and a civilian,such as an overseas service civilian, who qualifies for support from our Department. Primary Caregivers You may qualify for VIP housekeeping and/or grounds maintenance services if you were the primary caregiver of a veteran who: • qualified for these VIP services anytime after the program began in April, 1981; and • was receiving these services at the time he/she passed away or was admitted to a long-term care facility. Most primary caregivers are spouses or common- law partners, but adult children or other individuals also may qualify. To quulify for VIP as a primary caregiver. • you must need the services to remain independent in your home but your health prevents you from doing these tasks; and • at the time a veteran passed away or was admitted to a long-term care facility, you: — were primarily responsible for making sure that care was provided to the veteran; — did not receive a wage to provide this care; — lived in the principal residence of the veteran and maintained the veteran, or was maintained by the veteran, for a continuous period of at least one year; and — meet other eligibility criteria. If the veteran you cared for received both housekeeping and grounds maintenance services, then you will qualify for both. However, if the veteran only received one of these services (such as grounds maintenance services), then this is the only service that will be available to you. Once you qualify for VIP, you will receive the services for as long as you need them. Payments are not retroactive. COMMUNE Our staff will be pleased to counsel you about other programs and services in your province or community that may be able to help you. Every effort will be made to put you touch with these programs. For more information on the Veterans Independence Program and how to apply, please call: 1-866-522-2122 (English) or 1-866-522-2022 (French) or visit our Web site at www vac-acc.gc.ca. Revised: April 2005 ©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 1999 Cat. No.: V32-44/1999 ISBN: 0-662-60287-0