Hope and Resilience in the Face of Unthinkable Challenges by Mira Dineen
The stories from the social audits, along with the feedback and insights of those who attended ISARC's Religious Leaders Forum, demonstrate that significant work must still be done to eliminate poverty in Ontario.
However, the social audits also revealed stories of hope and resilience in the face of unthinkable challenges.
This is an article about ISARC's June 2 Religious Leaders' Forum on the 2010 Social Audit at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. This was a provincial gathering to hear and discuss the initial findings from our community hearings on poverty.
Welfare Must Change! “People on social
assistance are poorer today than they were after the provincial election
in 2003.” This statement was made by the editor and author of LIVES
STILL IN THE BALANCE in 2007. Unfortunately the statement is still true
for adults without children on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability
Support Program (ODSP). The 2010 social audit of Interfaith Social
Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) has many testimonies of how adults
and children are harmed by the provincial social assistance system and
the lack of new affordable housing. They are also injured by the stigma
of being on welfare. They lose dignity as they apply for welfare,
request a food hamper, and do not have enough money for both food and
rent.
The Ontario Social Assistance
Review Advisory Committee (SARAC) has now called for a thorough
transformation of social assistance in Ontario and has included
necessary changes to other provincial and federal income security
programs, so that individuals and families can provide the essentials
for life and have the energy and strength to “break the cycle of
poverty.” They recommend that Ontario move forward during a time of
recession because money expended to assist those with lowest incomes
contributes to local economies, helps break the recession, adds to the
tax base, and makes all our communities healthier.
ISARC supports an immediate increase in
social assistance payments to all OW and ODSP recipients. One hundred
dollars per month per adult is an appropriate down payment toward
reducing poverty. This $100 increase puts food in the budget. Currently recipients do not have money for rent and nutritious food. This is especially true of adults without children. Since Ontario is
making welfare an adult program, the $100/ month should go to all adults
on social assistance. ISARC supports money going to adults monthly,
rather than a tax benefit once a year since people on low incomes need
money for current expenses.
This
increase should not eliminate the Special Diet allowance, which is very
necessary for many OW and ODSP recipients. Extra monies for nutritious
food are needed when a person has a physical or mental health
condition. Nutritious food for many means fewer visits to doctors or
trips to the emergency ward or hospital. Dollars saved by less use of
the medical system will far exceed the costs of the Special Diet
allowance.
As ISARC volunteers listened
to people during the social audit, many said, “I never expected to ask
for a food hamper. I gave food for hampers.” Others said, “I’ve never
been here and I don’t know how to manage on such a low income.” Because
there was no transition between Employment Insurance (EI) and welfare,
some talked of losing all their assets. If they were over 45 years old,
they will probably be poor for the rest of their lives since there will
not be time to build up pension or significant RRSPs.
While ISARC supports the federal and
provincial governments creating an income security system for people
caught in unemployment or recession, ISARC asks the Ontario government
to work as quickly as possible to eliminate the “stupid rules” in the
welfare system, increase income of recipients, and appoint the
commissioners and the social assistance advisory committee to conduct
the Social Assistance Review. To do a thorough job, 18 months might be
necessary, but people with low income should not suffer further because
transformation takes a long time. To support the SARAC report and call for
immediate increases to social assistance contact:
Hon. Laurel Broten, Cabinet Chairperson of the Ontario
Poverty Reduction Strategy and Minister of Children and Youth, at Lbroten.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Affordable Housing Delayed - Again! The Ontario Affordable Housing Strategy was to be
released in Spring 2010, but government sources now say the provincial
plan will be delayed until July or fall of 2010. With 142,000
households waiting for affordable housing in Ontario, this is a tragic
delay for many. It is no longer possible for people on Ontario Works
(OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as well as those on
minimum wage to pay the rent and provide nutritious food for themselves,
according to regional Medical Officers of Health and public health
agencies. Since many have dependents who are children, this is even
more difficult.
The provincial government has not indicated
reasons for the delay. Is affordable housing a very low priority? Do
they expect that people needing housing and those developing affordable
housing will not speak out? Is this situation an alert to faith
communities to register more people to vote, so that people with lower
incomes have a voice?
Interfaith Social Assistance Reform
Coalition (ISARC) volunteers and faith organizations spoke out at the
local affordable housing forums throughout the province in 2009. ISARC’s social audits heard of the drastic situation of many households
because of inadequate, unsafe, and unaffordable housing.
Federal
and provincial governments need to address the serious lack of
affordable housing in our country. Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation reports that 3.8 million households rent and these rents are
rapidly increasing. Cost of Living for 2009 was between 1 & 2% but
rents increased over 3%. Waiting lists for affordable housing are
growing because of rent increases and the recession. In May 2010,
Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association reported 12,382 households
joining local Ontario waiting lists for a 9.8% increase in one month
(May 2010).
If your faith community is part of an affordable
housing corporation, ask the board and member organizations as well as
tenants to discuss how you can meet with your Ontario Member of the
Provincial Parliament and your federal Member of Parliament to tell the
success stories of people currently in affordable housing and the
difficult circumstances of others who are on waiting lists. Encourage
local housing cooperatives to also advocate for more housing.
One
of the best ways to “break the cycle of poverty” is to have a safe,
affordable house or apartment. Single adults and family members go back
to school, start to solve health issues, find jobs, network with
neighbours, and are better able to care for their children.
Monies
to build affordable housing have been used in previous recessions to
stimulate the economy and provide good jobs. Why not in 2010?
Don’t Forget October Municipal Elections... The poverty elimination strategy sits primarily with the provincial and federal governments because income security, affordable housing, child care, employment, education, and other programs are at these levels.
But municipal governments make many decisions which can dramatically impact people with low incomes in the community: recreation and transportation are two prime examples. The municipal politicians decide what to do with money saved because the provincial government is up-loading welfare costs; will they use it to reduce poverty or place in other areas of their budget. Politicians put together strategies which determine how staff respond to provincial and federal affordable housing programs.
School board policies have impact on school costs paid by children and families. In the 2010 social audit, ISARC heard that parents and youth have a hard time paying for high school fees for courses, sports, and extra-curricular activities. Do educational policies recognize the faiths and specific needs of new Canadians? Are there programs for youth and young adults who have left school before graduation or could not complete school in their country of origin?
Poverty is complex and municipalities have a part to play.
Perhaps this can be seen as a “test run”. Can advocates and people with low incomes get out the vote?
A number of communities are preparing activities for municipal candidates who must register by 9 September 2010. Do these candidates realize there is poverty in their area? Do the needs of people with low incomes have a priority as they set policy?
Bring together a coalition of people to work together! Get out the vote!
Telling Our Stories: Disability Should Not Equal Poverty July 7 at Metro Hall Rotunda, Toronto ODSP Action Coalition is hosting an afternoon to highlight personal stories from people on Ontario Disability Support Program on July 7, 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
ODSP recipients, family members, and the general public are invited for an afternoon of sharing what it is really like to live on ODSP. The speaking agenda will include a panel discussion on human rights and ODSP, as well as personal stories from four people with direct experience living on ODSP. The event will also include informational displays and an area where you can share your own story.
The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) was born out of the hope that together a coalition of faith groups could contribute to new public policies based upon greater justice and dignity for Ontarians marginalized by poverty
