The amount of people using social assistance in Bruce County is up.
A report from Director of Social Services Terry Sanderson says the caseload for the first six months of 2009 was over 17 per cent higher than the same period in 2008.
There have been an average of 81 applications per month.
The caseload did start to drop in May, with 20 fewer in June.
However, Sanderson says the exception is that the caseload increased in July — even though there are usually more jobs locally because of seasonal employment.
Sanderson says it’s because Employment Insurance Benefits are running out for many people and they still can’t find work.
As for meeting the challenge of more Bruce County residents on social assistance — Sanderson says the county has to provide social assistance under provincial mandate, and is obligated to cover 20 per cent of the cost.