ei April Ist, 1974

Ss the young ‘people: concerned. Drs. Metler also mentioned that. the House is a

“referral centre. -for.. Life-line and. ‘that the. staff. ‘is available on an-eme
- gency. basis; also, there ds a: worker from Manpower made. available through ‘the
~ "Qutreach' progran, -who | spends 50% of his time working with the young people |
to try and. encourage them: to seek employment. Dr. Metler stated that the ~
. House is also a- ‘referral centre for other agencies, such as Riverview, the e

R.C.M.P., school counselling, etc... ‘Dr. Metler pointed out that in the report,

- accomplishments achieved and future plans « are set out, and -he-stated. that it: is .

._ hoped to include. some = camping trips and undertake some gardening this year.
Alderman Ranger inquired how many parents have come to the centre for help,
and Dr. Metler advised’ that assistance has been given to approx: mately. 10.
families. Alderman Laking inquired as to the number of' persons . who have. taken.
advantage o£ the centre on a continuous basis, and Dre Metler replied that there
isa fairly static population of about 70 to 80 young people. who use the -
centre at least once or twice a week, and that the total population over. the
past seven tionths has been about. 300 te 400. Alderman Laking. inquired whether
> many persons really benefit from the facilities and. counselling, or.is the
Centre just.used as a place to. "hang out", and Dr. Metler advised that those
“attending on a regular basis are the type not. usually at hone with their fan-
ilies after 10:00 p.m., and the benefit is that they are at the centre, and .
not on the. streets;. also,. there has been some success in job placement.-- Dr.
..Metler commented - that. the young person who comes to. the centre is. usually one
- Who does not get involved in any structured type of recreational program.
Alderman Kervluk inquired. as to. ‘the ‘percentage of local young persons using.
the centre as opposed to those from neighbouring municipalities, and Dr. Metler
advised: that local usage | is about: 90%... In answer to a query: from Alderman.
Thompson, Dr. Metler stated that while lack. of employment is a problen, he
could not. Say. whether it is a major. problem,. although it is. difficult to place
- those between the ages of . 16 and 17 years with only grade 3 or 9 education.
“Alderman t Mabbett. expressed concern about some of the undesirable incidents
‘that have occurred at PoCo: House,: such as. drinking on the premises, and Dre
.Metler ‘advised that there. have been only two such incidents in the last three
months, - Alderman Mabbett, inquired as-to the number of young people actually
‘placed. on jobs during the last 6 months, and Dr. Metler advised that the.
» Outreach worker did. not start antil about the middle of . January; however, he
-has interviewed about 20 persons and placed 4 on jobs. Alderman ‘Traboulay.

- - stated he -is convinced. that’ the service offered by the centre is more than