Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) voted unanimously to boost funding for a seniors' support in the community.

The Senior Relief Fund's limit has increased from $3,500 to $5,000 annually. The relief fund was created in 2016 and supports community members over the age of 55 who need financial support (rent, utilities, housing improvement, etc.).

Six Nations Health Services (SNHS) says that the increased limit was approved by council during the previous fiscal year, but it did go back to the current rate of $3,500 at the beginning of this fiscal year. SNHS say they have been communicating with community members and advocating for the $5,000 limit to be permanently increased.

Coun. Audrey Powless-Bomberry supported the increase to the relief fund, saying it's a really good idea."

"The cost is continuing to rise and when you want to get a furnace, ramps, air conditioning, anything of the big ticket items that you live on, it's far more than $3,500."

Coun. Helen Miller says she would like to see SNEC look to hire someone to run the program and advocate.

"That person could also be an elderly advocate for other issues with elderly people."

Sherri Lyn Hill-Pierce agreed that SNEC needs to build up the staffing within the relief fund and even creating an elders department.

"I think we need an elders department because my concern is the same as what Helen's is and that is that it's scattered everywhere," Hill-Pierce said.

"I think we really need to beef up dealing with the elders and put them under one [department] and give them some continuum of care because it just seems too scattered and that's not fair."

SNEC approved the permanent increase of the yearly maximum limit for for community members registered with the Senior Relief Fund to $5,000 during the Sept. 18 General Finance meeting.

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