Ending Poverty in Ontario

Sault Ste. Marie project in the news

Low Income People Have their Voices Heard

Karen Johns for SooNews.ca
Thursday, December 18, 2008, 3:12PM

Voices of Action Against Poverty launched a report today at the Sault Ste. Marie Community Soup Kitchen Centre.

It is a report on what low income people want to see next in the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The report entitled “Solutions Start With Us: Voices of Low Income People in Ontario” is based on input from 290 low income people in Sault Ste. Marie , Windsor, Ottawa,
Thunder Bay , Owen Sound and Toronto.

Jill Hewgill, a Community Legal Worker, with the Algoma Community Legal Clincc said that now more than ever, with the economic situation the way it is, new funding in the Federal and Provincial budgets is badly needed to kick start the economy and get people spending locally.
“Investing in poverty reduction is crucial to the province’s economic recovery” she said.

The problem facing low income people in Ontario is a big one.
Speakers at the Soup Kitchen spoke about the low vacancy rate for housing in this city and just how difficult it is to find affordable housing.

One man, Yvon Robert, spoke of the discrimination facing people who rely on Ontario Disability for an income and how it affects people when they apply for a job.

“Many people will not hire you when they see you are on disability for mental health problems” said. “ It’s not a disability you can see and employers often turn down applicants who have a mental disability. I can work ,” he said, “there is nothing physical preventing me from working.“

Robert described how frustrating it is when over 70% of the cheque you receive from ODSP goes toward rent. There is never enough money for food.

The Soup Kitchen provides lunch to between 60 and 100 people a day who otherwise would go without.

People who are living in extreme poverty are often more prone to sickness. Some, who need special diets are worried that because they cannot afford the foods they need, or in some cases, any food , their lives are in peril.

Drug costs are often too high for them and so they do without. With our health care in crisis these situations are only going to get worse. Many people do not have a family doctor.

The Ontario Government in its poverty reduction strategy , commits to reducing child poverty by 25% in the next five years and publicly report on its progress. They have also committed to a review of welfare and disability programs to reduce the many barriers people race and build in more opportunities fro moving from social assistance into the workforce.
When asked if the Government will listen to the recommendations in the report, Tony Martin told SooNews, “They have to, they have no choice. It’s not just the banks and businesses who need help. The problems facing people living in poverty have to be addressed.”

The people who participated and who gave their input to the “Ending Poverty Project” have stated loud and clear what the problems are that they face everyday.

Now it’s up to the Government to listen and make changes in order that even those whose lives are filled with frustration, fear and hunger can lead better, productive, healthy lives.