ODSP increase guarantees continued poverty for disabled Ontarians

submitted by ODSP ActionCoalition

Recipients of the Ontario Disability Support Program are warning of the inadequacy of the Ontario government’s six and a half per cent inflationary increase to some benefits, which is slated to take effect on July 31st.

Why 6.5% is not enough: Yvonne’s Story

Yvonne Spicer of London Ontario can barely keep her head above water with her monthly Ontario Disability Support Program payments. This month's six and a half per cent increase means, on average, a rise of around $80 per month, which for most clients of the program does not change much.

"It's a joke," says Yvonne, aged 45, who has medium-to-high functioning autism and like so many people with disabilities has difficulties finding and retaining employment. "Six and a half per cent is not enough. You're not lifting the person from poverty, you're hitting them so low. The person is still down here, where they would love to be up above the poverty line."

As a result of her low income, Yvonne has been forced by high rents to move back home and share a rented house with her aging mother who lives on a small pension. "If not for not my mom," says Yvonne. "I'd be back on the street." She says their combined incomes are not enough to cover the rent while also paying for food and other essentials amid skyrocketing inflation. "We're going to food banks and church dinners every week.”

"Walk in our shoes," says Yvonne to her fellow Ontarians. "You can’t live with what we get a month. If you walked in our shoes, you would see that six and a half per cent is still not enough."

ODSP Action Coalition is a provincial, volunteer, grassroots advocacy group led by people with lived experience of ODSP, with a network of valued allies including legal workers, disability and poverty related NGOs, policy experts, health care professionals and others who advocate for improvements to the income and other supports available to people with disabilities (https//twitter.com/ODSPAction).

For more information, contact ODSP Action Coalition at odspactioncoalition@gmail.com.

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• Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. (Open Session) – Council Chambers

• Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. (Open Session) – Burritt’s Rapids Community Hall, Burritt’s Rapids

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

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• Housing Advisory Committee – Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

• Heritage Advisory Committee – Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

• Indigenous Advisory Circle – Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

• Environmental Action Advisory Committee – Monday, July 24, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

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North Grenville In Bloom

North Grenville is participating in Communities in Bloom, which is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the aesthetic appeal of communities across Ontario. North Grenville is looking for residents and businesses to participate by sharing photos and details of their blooms. We will be putting together a profile book and tour of the community for the judges visiting the second week of August.

If you’re interested in taking part in the initiative, including contributing to the profile book, tour, or submitting your beautiful photos of local gardens and landscapes, visit the North Grenville in Bloom project page on northgrenville.ca/projects. For more information, contact vision@ northgrenville.on.ca.

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Notice of Potential Labour Disruption for Family and Children’s Services

submitted by Margaret Row Members of C.U.P.E. Local 2577 will be in a legal strike position on July 10th, 2023. In the event of a strike, there will be restricted access to our office locations. We encourage the community to contact FCSLLG by phone at the numbers provided below.

While FCSLLG is hopeful for a resolution, in the event of a work stoppage, protecting children and youth in immediate need of protection will remain our first priority. We will do everything we can to respond to all requests to the very best of our abilities.

If you are concerned about the safety of a child or youth, please do not hesitate to contact the Agency.

FCSLLG thanks you for your patience should a labour disruption occur.

Phone Numbers: Brockville: 613-498-2100 Toll-Free: 1-855-667-2726