Latest news with #socialization
CBC
16-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Moncton seniors shocked by 'betrayal' after plan for new centre falls through
Social Sharing Nothing was set in stone, but Dennis Cochrane says there was a "gentleman's agreement" between Rising Tide Community Initiatives and the citizens' group looking for a home for a seniors' centre in Moncton. So when Rising Tide backed away from the plan, it came as a shock. "We are obviously disappointed," Cochrane said. "We felt it was a bit of a betrayal to the seniors and to our group." Cochrane and dozens of others had been looking for a new location since the seniors' centre at the Moncton Lions Community Centre was turned into an emergency shelter in 2022. Seniors have been trying to find places to gather ever since. "We wanted to make sure there was a place for seniors to socialize," Cochrane said. "It may be physical activity, it may be a card game, it may be yoga — but they need to have a place to get together." The group recently incorporated the name 1010 Seniors Centre Inc, after months of discussions with Rising Tide about leasing the main floor of its building at 1010 St. George Blvd. But the group might have to change that name, since it will no longer be occupying that building. WATCH | 'We felt it was a bit of a betrayal to the seniors': Moncton seniors' centre plan derailed despite city's support 4 hours ago Duration 2:14 Rising Tide president Dale Hicks told Information Morning Moncton that the building will instead be leased to a group of doctors operating a medical clinic. It will serve the seniors who will occupy the affordable housing units being renovated by Rising Tide on the two upper floors. "We looked at it as a great alternative, not just for the seniors in the building, not just for the seniors next door, but also for the community-at-large health care," he said. The seniors' group had approached Moncton city council for funding for the centre, since it had helped with the previous one. Council agreed in April to give the seniors' group $1.1 million if it met 16 conditions, including forming a board and creating a business plan. But Hicks said those conditions hadn't yet been met, and Rising Tide couldn't delay the start of the renovations. "We're sitting on a project we're ready to go on," he said. "It's a $9 million project. We can't sit and wait for another four, five, six months to get an answer." City still confident In Cochrane's mind, the 16 requirements such as forming a board and creating a business plan were a formality, and the funding from the city was virtually guaranteed. "We felt we could start the construction and start getting ready to build our facility, and we would have all of that done long before the facility was ready," he said. Moncton Deputy Mayor Paulette Thériault was also confident the seniors' group would met the requirements eventually. "I'm still hopeful that they will meet those conditions," she said. For now, the funding is on hold, but Thériault said the group could still receive money when it finds a new location. "We'll have to deal with that as we go along. We have no idea, they may find a building that they do not have to have a loan to renovate, so it's kind of too premature to decide on that," she said. Theriault said the city is still committed to helping the seniors find a location that works. "We have a good base to work on," she said. "We've got the recommendation from council. So now, hopefully we'll just continue the dialogue and come up with another proposal." "I'm convinced that we will find what the seniors need and want." Cochrane hopes that the momentum of the seniors' group will lead them to find a new location for their centre. "We've got a few leads that we're going to look at," he said. "We're going to discuss them with the city and we'll see if they come to fruition.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Future of Pittsburgh-area agency in limbo after paperwork snafu
A husband and wife came up with the idea for a unique organization that helps socialize and encourage individuals with special needs. Mary Ann and Jim Gerken told KDKA Investigates that their experience with their youngest daughter, who often got left out due to her disability, sparked the idea. But the North Huntingdon parents believe a paperwork snafu now threatens the future of the agency. The organization can't pay its staff or tell anyone involved what's next, so they reached out to KDKA. "Every time we had something done, she'd add something else that we had to do, and we did it right away," said Mary Ann Gerken, owner of Above the Challenge. Above the Challenge offers interactive experiences for individuals on the state's waiver program who are looking to get out and learn life skills. Joey Wasko is one of the 38 individuals served by the program. "The one thing I'm still struggling with is cooking because it's very hard for me to understand the cookbooks and stuff like that. But I'm also trying to get organized," Wasko said. At 29 years old, Wasko from Latrobe relies on Above the Challenge. He's a regular at the group's outings, whether that is grocery shopping, art classes, or socializing at the zoo. Without the agency as a resource, "it would be even more tough for me," he said. Agency owners Mary Ann and Jim Gerken called KDKA Investigates, saying they're suspended by the state currently, and they say paperwork is to blame. "They have the option to shut us down if they don't think that we're compliant after a certain date. But we have all the proof, and we can prove it was in on time," Mary Ann Gerken said. Mary Ann Gerken sent KDKA emails showing a back-and-forth exchange between the Westmoreland County office that handles the necessary paperwork and proof of training, which later gets forwarded to the state. She said a previous employee did miss some deadlines in the past, but she says her new director submitted everything on time. Gerken believes the county failed to forward some documents to the state. "We have dates to prove that she sent them to the county, but the county never sent it to the state, so they think we aren't compliant," Mary Ann Gerken said. Because of that, they say their funding is frozen, the paychecks to staff can't go out, and the Gerkens have already lost one of their 12 employees. Impact of paperwork snafu Employee Ashley Wagner is expecting a baby next month and says she can't wait around. "It just doesn't make any sense," said Wagner. "We've complied with everything in a timely fashion, and it's just a matter of submitting something or making a phone call, simplistic things that are not being done. Therefore, it's putting everybody else through a lot of stress," said Wagner. KDKA Investigates called the Westmoreland County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Office to ask about the hold up. KDKA heard back from the director of the county's Department of Human Services, who said these decisions are handled at the state level, suggesting KDKA contact the state's Office of Developmental Programs. Meanwhile, the Gerkens say they are now entering week three of no answers, hoping KDKA can help. "Because we need some help and we can't get any answers from ODP," Mary Ann Gerken said. KDKA reached out to the state's Department of Human Services, which oversees ODP. KDKA is waiting to hear back.
