6 — Wednesday, June 7, 1989 - Capilano Chronicle SENIORS NEWS Seniors can defer their property taxes SENIOR CITIZENS are faced with increased costs for their S.A.F.E.R. (Shelter Aid for El- above, so you will need to plan accommodation this year, even if they own their own homes. _ _ Property taxes have risen for the homeowners, and, for renters, steep rises in rent seem inevitable as the market value of rental prop- erty increases. should you die, the taxes would be paid from your estate. Simple in- terest is charged on the amount owing Telephone the tax department at ON THE SENIORS’ SCENE NORTH SHORE INFORMATION AND VOLUNTEER CENTRE For the senior homeowner, there is some good news. If you are 60 or better you can ‘apply to defer your property taxes. This is a change from last year when you had to be 65 in order to apply. Deferring. your property taxes means that instead of paying your taxes: each’ year, the ac- cumulated taxes can be paid when the property changes hands. This would allow you to use.” some of the proceeds of the sale of your home to pay the taxes, or Native claims an issue From page 3 “There is an increase in marital breakdowns, domestic - violence, /substance abuse and child abuse,’’ he said. one of the highest high school drop- out rates of any province in Canada." The average household size has gone from 3.7 persons in 1961 to 2.9 in 1986, Downing said, and the result is an “atomization” of indi- viduals behind closed doors. These people suffer more than anyone else from the lack of ‘informal caring networks”? in our suburban community. Maryann Bird told the two speakers that “I hope to grow old in a neighborhood that includes families and children as well as people older than myself, notin a neighborhood that is . stratified because certain people are exclud-__ ed from moving in.”’ Goldberg warned that native ~~. land claims and the natives’ quest for self-government are emerging as urgent issues for all the residents of North Vancouver and the rest of Canada. - ‘We have witnessed in the last 18 months or so the increasing levels of violence that native peo- ple are feeling they must resort to in order to get. back what they consider to be their land,’’ Goldberg said, emphasizing. that such confrontations could erupt on the. North Shore = if. negotiations aren’t begun soon. Issues of the underclass and native land claims cannot be dealt with cheaply, Goldberg said. ; “Those of us who. receive -in- comes more than we need, maybe not enough to meet our wants but » definitely more than we need to “In B.C., we now have: your local City Halt for further in- formation. For senior renters the news is not quite so cheerful, but there are still things you can do. , If the rent of your present ac- commodation rises beyond your budget you might be eligible for SANDVIK BOWSAW onl For camping. light landscaping Y, pruning around the home and garden. Frame of tough Swedish stee! tubing. - Famous “Harcdpoint” blade and eS tension-lever handle tor simple, quick blade changing have,: must be prepared to give up f some of our individual ’ material derly Renters). If your rent is more than 30 per cent of your income and you are receiving the federal Old Age Se- curity Pension you can apply to the Ministry of Social Services and Housing (682-0391 toll-free in the Lower Mainland) and, if you meet all their qualifying requirements, you could receive a subsidy. Because of the way the subsidy is calculated on a maximum rent of $450 per month ($475 for couples), you would be unlikely to receive much more than $100 per month. If the rent of your home is still more than you can manage, you could consider moving to one of the low cost self-contained suites available on the North Shore. The North Shore Information and Volunteer Centre (985-7138) can supply you with a list of such housing for seniors. A leaflet is available which in- cludes a map indicating the loca- tions of eight residences in North Vancouver and four in West Van- couver as well as some useful phone numbers pertaining to hous- ing. There are waiting lists for all of the accommodation mentioned Farm fresh and delicious produce for your family at UNBEATABLE {aa PRODUCE 987-5163 £6. reg. $9.95_ LATTICE PANELS 4x8' FRAMED, Looks attractive, gives privacy & simple to to Santee for Jences well in advance if you think you might want to move. You can make an appointment to look around units at one or two of the residences. This can some- times help you feel more comfort- able with your decision of where you might live in the future. Information published in this column is intended only as a gen- erat guide and should not be ap- plied to specific cases without fur- ther consultation. The North Shore Information and Volunteer Centre at 1060 Roosevelt Crescent, North Van- couver, V7P 1M3, phone 985- 7138, is a United Way member agency: This column is prepared with financial assistance from the Notary Foundation. ‘Days with usill All our quality sunglasses, including Ray. 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