Money dispute keeps home for disabled vacant
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | 10:25 AM AT
CBC News
A funding dispute over staffing has kept a new Halifax residence for adults with disabilities empty for five months.
The L'Arche home in the city's north end has been ready since June, but the eight adults haven't moved in yet.
"We've been waiting for months now," said Scott Moulton, whose 25-year-old son, Shawn, will be among the residents. "It is edge-of-the-seat stuff. We're getting very anxious ourselves. It's a trying time."
Shawn Moulton has cerebral palsy. He is living with his parents until a funding agreement is reached for the new home at the corner of Sullivan and Gottingen streets.
The disagreement between the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services and the L'Arche board centres on the operating budget for the $1.3-million home.
Cathy MacMillan, executive director of L'Arche Halifax, said the main issue is about the money available for staffing.
"For the board, they really feel that the number of staff allotted is not sufficient. They're looking at the people that we're getting ready to welcome and the needs of those individuals," she said.
Community Services is waiting to hear back about a proposal it sent L'Arche Halifax at the end of October, said Lorna MacPherson, the department's director of services for people with disabilities.
"The house is vacant and on a daily basis we are dealing with families who are requesting services and support for their individuals with a disability. And to have a vacant home is certainly not satisfactory to the department," MacPherson said.
MacMillan said the L'Arche board is nearly ready to respond to the department's funding proposal. She hopes residents will be able to move in by the new year.
L'Arche relies on community donations and help from volunteers. But the organization hasn't looked at fundraising for staff because that's covered by the department, MacMillan said.
"Might we end up doing that? It's possible. But that's not on the table at the moment," she said.
