Top Story: $42 Million Reprieve on CSUMB
On December 27, the Ontario government announced a last-minute, $42 million fund to “ease the transition” to consolidated housing and homelessness funding:
http://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2012/12/enhancing-housing-and-homelessness-supports
CBC coverage: http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/12/27/hamilton-province-funding-csumb.html
Note that ISAC will be circulating information about the impact of the transition fund in the coming days –subscribe to our main ISAC E-List to receive this info.
Some Responses
Hamilton Community Legal Clinic:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Transitional%20Funding%20from%20Province&id=210
Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction:
http://raisethehammer.org/article/1737
OCAP and CUPE:
- http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/liberals-bow-partly-to-pressure-from-anti-poverty-groups-1741415.htm
- http://www.ocap.ca/node/1045
Wellesley Institute:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/news/great-holiday-news-as-ontario-steps-up-with-transitional-funding-for-housing-and-homelessness-supports/
Impacts by Community
Bruce County instituting a Housing Stability Fund:
http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=53580
Guelph-Wellington gets $115K:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/863302–guelph-wellington-receive-115k-for-housing-support
Hamilton gets $3.19M more:
http://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2012/12/enhancing-housing-and-homelessness-supports
Hamilton councillor says it’s a “pyrrhic victory”:
http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news/provincial-funding-pyrrhic-victory-says-councillor/
London gets $1.4M:
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/01/01/province-providing-14-million-to-help-londons-homeless
Niagara gets $1.9M:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/27/last-minute-housing-cash-called-temporary-win
But Niagara still wants CSUMB back: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/28/cash-in-hand-region-still-wants-benefit-back
Ottawa gets $2.5M – transitional fund called “buffer money” to help municipalities transition to consolidated homelessness funding:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Provincial+housing+cash+toward+funding+city+social+services/7754457/story.html
Peterborough gets $1.5M:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2013/01/02/peterboroughs-share-of-42m-relief-funding-more-than-most-ministry
Sault Ste. Marie gets $650K more:
http://www.saultstar.com/2012/12/28/community-start-up-gets-boost
Halton Region won’t get any of the $42M, as CHPI gives them more than before:
http://www.insidehalton.com/news/article/1559364–province-doles-out-funds-for-housing-and-homelessness-programs
Peel Region doesn’t get any either, for the same reason:
http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/1559554–peel-misses-out-on-42m-funding-splash
More from Peel: http://www.caledonenterprise.com/news-story/1489235-province-offsets-cuts-to-anti-poverty-programs/
Waterloo Region reflects on the past year – the most difficult challenge was says “the reshaping of provincial support for social services supporting poor and needy people in this region”:
http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/local/article/1560293–much-accomplished-in-2012-but-more-to-do-chair
– note they are suggesting a special property tax levy to address the shortfall
Coverage Just Prior to the Dec 27 Announcement
Activists meet in Hamilton for Ontario Communities Uniting:
- Spec: http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/853781–poverty-activists-gather-in-hamilton
- Spec again: http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/853781–anti-poverty-activists-solicit-supporters-at-queen-s-park
- CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2012/12/14/hamilton-ontario-council-poverty-debate.html
The joint statement of OCU: http://mcco.ca/system/files/Media%20statement%20-%20joint%20statement%20on%20CSUMB-%20Dec%2021st%20final.pdf
Spec editorial – improve social assistance in 2013, not more cuts:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorial/article/859245–fix-has-to-be-in-on-social-assistance
Opinion piece – Ontarians have been left on their own:
http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/20/ontarians-left-on-own-to-find-financial-cure
Belleville: http://countylive.ca/blog/?p=32830
Brant:
- http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/12/05/change-to-hurt-poorest-of-the-poor
- http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2012/12/13/changes-to-provincial-programs-draw-protest
Hamilton: http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/article/853145–every-woman-has-a-right-to-a-safe-home
London:
- http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/17/750000-buys-time-to-deal-with-a-3-million-cut-in-provincial-funding
- http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/27/hived-off-or-helped-out
Niagara: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/17/home-at-last-for-niagara-mom-son
Nipissing:
- http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=50074
- http://www.nugget.ca/2012/12/20/municipalities-win-social-agencies-lose
Northumberland: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2012/12/13/social-services-faces-cutbacks
Peel:
- http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/1557852–poverty-group-steps-up-benefit-campaign
- http://www.mississauga.com/news/article/1552264–poverty-protesters-target-takhar
Sault Ste. Marie: http://www.saultstar.com/2012/12/13/protest-over-service-cuts-halts-traffic
Sudbury: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2012/12/15/accent-poor-will-suffer-from-program-cut
Toronto:
- http://annemariebatten.blogspot.ca/2012/12/winter-reflections-today-is-december-21.html
- http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1304243–goar-where-the-homeless-go-on-christmas-day
Toronto – campout at Glen Murray’s office:
- http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1488458-group-protests-cuts-to-community-start-up-and-maintenance-benefit/
- http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2012/12/poor-and-homeless-people-made-shoulder-cuts-essential-social-programs
Waterloo: http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/local/article/1557263–transitional-funding-approved-for-start-up