In this issue:- 2010 Social Audit: A Faith Community Assessment of the Status of Poverty in Ontario
- Multifaith Forum on Faith Communities and Advocacy with Governments
- Queen’s Park forum draws 100 people to push for housing
- Redeemer University College student postcard campaign for affordable housing
- A Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy for Ontario
- Five benchmarks for social assistance
- Can we have an adult conversation about taxes?
- We have new contact information
2010 Social Audit: A Faith Community Assessment of the Status of Poverty in OntarioISARC is mobilizing again to provide opportunities for the most vulnerable of our society to tell their stories of living in poverty.
In 2010, Hearings will take place across Ontario as part of
ISARC’s Social Audit. This Social Audit seeks to communicate the social effects of the current Ontario government’s policies and actions towards people living in poverty and our society as a whole.
Find out how you can get involved:
TopMultifaith Forum on Faith Communities and Advocacy with Governmentsby Karen Kuhnert
ISARC’s Multifaith Forum, on the topic of advocacy with governments from different faith perspectives, drew a group of engaged people to the Wilfred Laurier University on October 29.
Participants heard from Muslim, Buddhist, Unitarian, and Christian panelists. Brice Balmer, ISARC Director, moderated the event.
Read more and view pictures…TopQueen's Park forum draws 100 people to push for housingby Murray MacAdam
Ontario’s deepening housing crisis took centre stage at a Queen’s Park forum sponsored by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) on November 5 that drew 100 people to learn more about the issues and to push for action.
Read more… 
At ISARC's forum on Affordable Housing, a panel of persons, living in affordable housing, spoke from their experience. They included Connie Harrison,
a resident of Beaver Creek Housing Co-operative, and
Mubeen Qureshi.
Adding to these stories of lived experience, Brice Balmer, ISARC Director, spoke of the unique challenges of housing for low-German, large, rural families in the Waterloo Region in his presentation,
Journey to Housing is a Spiritual One.
MPPs, who dropped by throughout the day, were introduced.
Mario Sergio, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,
gave greetings on behalf of the Hon. Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
In the afternoon, Brian Eng of the Wellesley Institute gave a presentation on the
Housing Network of Ontario.
He was followed by Harvey Cooper of the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada who presented,
Visioning Affordable Housing Possibilities.
The final presenter was Sharad Kerur, Executive Director of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association who spoke on,
Rebuilding the Foundations: ONPHA’s Response to the Long‐Term Affordable Housing Strategy.
Proceedings and Pictures…
TopRedeemer University College student postcard campaign for affordable housingOne of the highlights of ISARC’s Religious Leaders’ Forum on November 5 was a presentation by students from Redeemer University College on their affordable housing
Narrow the Gap postcard campaign, which you can download and distribute amongst your own community. The students delivered the postcards to the Premier's Office that day.
TopA Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy for OntarioThe Ontario government is developing a new, long-term housing strategy to make it easier for Ontario families to find and maintain affordable housing.
Between now and December 31, 2009, you have the opportunity to provide input.
You can share your ideas in a variety of ways:
ISARC intends to have a submission ready by early December, which will post on our website.
TopFive benchmarks for social assistanceBy Pat Capponi and Jennefer Laidley (members of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction)
Ontario's fiscal woes come as bad news for the growing number of Ontarians dealing with the fallout from the recent economic storm.Toronto Star, October 27, 2009.
TopCan we have an adult conversation about taxes?By Pat Capponi and Jennefer Laidley (members of the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction)
At the risk of insulting a generation of 4-year-olds, it's time we had an adult conversation in Canada about taxes and public services. Toronto Star, October 26, 2009
TopISARC has new contact information
Some of you, or people in your community, are still sending mail or email to ISARC’s old addresses. Please ensure that you use the correct addresses below:
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC)
P.O. Box 25067 - SDM
Kitchener ON N2A 4A5
info@isarc.caTop 
