Aaa – Advocacy: Awareness To Action Project

Transcript

1 AAA – Advocacy: Awareness to Action Project E-Booklet and Toolkit of Resources A Project of the York Region Food Network - 2011 Funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario 2 FRAMEWORK FOR THE AAA PROJECT AND EBOOKLET Table of Contents 1.) AAA PROJECT - 6 AAA Project Background and Introduction Early Advocacy Plan Development 2.) AAA PROJECT – ADVOCACY TOOL KIT 16 - Video and Discussion Guide 16 - Advocacy Exercises 39 - Do the Math (Background, Results and Budget Survey) - Brainstorming Exercise for Advocacy Efforts - Promotional Buttons and Flyers 46 - Evolution of the Button Making Partnership with Community Living - Instructions on How to Make Buttons - Sample Button Templates - Sample Flyers for Events, etc. - Packages for Advocacy Team Members 48 - Information Package for Teams - MPP Team Visits - samples - Package for MPP Visits 83 - Sample Letters and Contact Information 83 - Letters to MPPs - Contact Information for MPPs and Ministers 3 - Letters Requesting Funds - Miscellaneous Advocacy Letters re: HFS - Letters to the Editor - Resources - Endorsements 92 - Sample Endorsements for Individuals and Municipalities - Endorsements by Emergency Food Providers Sector - Municipal Endorsements 3.) AAA – E-ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN and PETITIONS - GO Petition AVAAZ 4.) AAA – TRAINING FOR ADVOCATES AND GROUPS - 97 100 Training Documents and Agenda Certificate Template for Advocates receiving training 5.) AAA - PRESENTATIONS AND POWERPOINTS - Children Youth and Families Planning Forum (Two Presentations) - Presentation to Boards of Directors (Sample of one to YRFN) - Presentations to Faith Groups -Presentation to York Region Community and Health Services (2 presentations) - Presentation to Ontario Municipal Social Services Association – add PP - Presentation to OSSTF - Poor no More Film Nights (3 presentations across York Region) 102 4 -Presentation to OCCUPY Newmarket -Presentation to YRDSB Schools - Presentation to Bayview Secondary School Health Sciences Class (gr.12) - Presentation to Huron Heights Civic Class (February or March) TBD - It’s not Too Late to Change The World Video and Accompanying Powerpoint/Discussion Guide 6.) REPORTS AND SUBMISSIONS - ISARC Report 2010 YORK REGION COUNCIL Submission to the Social Assistance Review Commissions York Region Invitation Letter to the SAR Commissioners 7.) RESOURCES AND LINKS - 123 Economy and Poverty Equity and Income – The Growing Gap Health Indicators and Links with Poverty Hunger and Poverty In Canada Poverty in York Region Municipalities and Responsibility for Poverty Building Capacity and Organizing for Change Social Determinants of Health Media Articles and Op-Eds SPNO Resources for PFIB Other Links 8.) PROVINCE WIDE PFIB CAMPAIGNS AND STRATEGIES - 119 MPP Visits Campaign Do the Math Budget Survey and Postcard Campaign Take the Math or Food Bank Diet Challenge – April 2009 ongoing Campaign For Campbell’s Valentines for Dwight Duncan – Finance Minister – February 2011 Food Bank Awareness Campaign – Freedom 90 – June 2011 ongoing Valentines for Dwight Duncan – Finance Minister – February 2011 147 5 - Christmas Cards for Dalton Mc Guinty – December 2011 9.) ADVOCACY WITH PROVINCIAL MINISTERS - PFIB Minister Visits and Reports 2011 10.) RELATED AND INTERCONNECTED POVERTY CAMPAIGNS AND TOOLKITS - 186 Do the Math Challenge PFIB Provincial Rally in Toronto AAA Assorted Pictures to be used in the Video AAA Hosts Hunger Awareness Day June 1 2011 Training AAA Advocates PFO Launch at IFTC in Newmarket 12.) EVALUATIVE SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS - 164 ISARC Poverty Free Ontario Poor No More Film Debuts Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA) 11.) AAA PROJECT IN PHOTOS - 164 Evaluative Summary and Project Highlights Future Power Point Presentations to be used with the AAA Video Next Steps 2012 186 6 AAA Project Introduction and Background Advocacy: Awareness to Action Project Building Bridges between Awareness and Action on Social Issues Following from our success with the Put Food In the Budget Campaign (http://putfoodinthebudget.ca/ ) both at the provincial level and at the local level with our Do the Math Working Group, York Region Food Network acquired funding in 2011 t o continue our advocacy work around issues of food insecurity and inadequate income from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.3581583/k.F7E3/Heart_Disease_Stroke_and_Healthy_Living.htm) Our primary objective over the past two years has been to advocate for the implementation of a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario who receive less than they did pre-1995 and who have been left out of the provincial government’s poverty reduction strategy altogether. The result being increased food insecurity in York Region and across Ontario, increased reliance on over-burdened food banks, and the deterioration of hope and life chances for a completely impoverished group of people who continue in living in hunger, poor health, homelessness, hopelessness and despair. As we worked in the past two years to create more awareness in York Region about the absolutely inadequate social assistance rates for individuals in this province, we realized that even when people and groups are aware, they often don’t necessarily know how to take action on the issues and build a movement for change. The objectives of our new funding and project titled ADVOCACY: AWARENESS TO ACTION was to identify and implement advocacy strategies that would equip individuals, groups and organizations with the skills/tools to advocate for not only the $100 Healthy Food Supplement, but also other social causes that would be on their radar. Tools and Strategies for Implementation of the AAA project. 1. Video and Facilitator’s Manual for use with the Video promoting eradication of poverty and building of healthy communities. Video entitled “Courage to Change My World.” 2. Advocacy Letter and Tool Writing Kit / Resources to assist people in making changes. 3. Website to host AAA section for all advocacy resources, events and opportunities. 4. Petition for the Healthy Food Supplement – online PETITION (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/put-food-in-the-budget.html) for Put Food In the Budget to help us advocate 7 A brief history of some of our Advocacy Strategies The first strategy - Do the Math Budget Survey (www.putfoodinthebudget.ca) has been successful in broadening general public awareness and also bringing more attention to senior levels of government as 15,000 people have been on-line to complete the survey and submit to the Premier as well as other Ministers involved: Meilleur, Matthews, Broten and Duncan in particular. Our second strategy was to meet and educate MPPs from across York Region (and in the case of the PFIB - across Ontario); we requested that they complete the Do the Math Budget Survey of the monthly costs of living for a person on SA, and speak to the inadequate rates which are 40% lower when cost of living is taken into account, than they were pre-1995. - This was a successful strategy in terms of RAISING AWARENESS among MPPs – 50 were met with across Ontario, the majority of which agreed the rates were insufficient (from all parties) We met with all 7 MPPs in York Region and were able to ascertain quotes from several to this effect that we’ve been able to use in subsequent media pieces and to leverage other supporters. A third strategy - The Do the Math Challenge across Ontario was also very successful in bringing awareness to the issue and helping to begin the dialogue with people who are not usually involved in these types of issues. - 1,000 people took the Diet Challenge, of living on primarily items from a food bank; 12 people in York Region completed it and spoke to it in a variety of ways, newspaper, face book, twitter, public events. Raising Awareness and bringing new advocates and champions on side has been quite successful due to these main strategies However, we continued to hear from MPPs that despite their awareness, they were not prepared to make the Healthy Food Supplement (HFS) an issue until the general public was on board with this kind of approach to reducing poverty. At the same time, during the York Region Social Audit in April 2010, we were hearing from individuals with lived experience of poverty and agency staff who indicated a wish to be involved in more advocacy efforts if leadership and a mechanism were in place to make participation more do-able and effective. At that point YRFN and the Do the Math Working Group applied for Advocacy Development Funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario to pilot an advocacy project in York Region that would involve more individuals with experience of poverty and a broader participation of agencies and individuals already working in this field. Heart and Stroke has provided us funding for this year, and potentially next, to develop an action plan strategy. This strategy will mobilize the community to make this a voting issue and in turn increase the pressure on our MPPs. ADVOCACY: Awareness to Action was formed with the emphasis on Action and developing strategies to engage more people in the general public (as well as to engage people who were already on side with the issues but weren’t clear on what they could do to effect change in their small corner of the world. (poverty advocates, agency board members, volunteers) 8 Our Target Audiences are primarily those who begin with some knowledge of the social landscape and issues, but require assistance to move beyond where they are currently to create change in their corner of the world. As a result, you cultivate Champions for the cause who are in a position to influence individuals in their circles and beyond. 1.) Poverty Advocates as Citizens and Voters 2.) Board Members as Citizens and Voters 3.) Volunteers as Citizens and Voters (Volunteers are Voters Too Campaign) There is often a huge gap between awareness of issues and awareness of the types of action that people can take to effect change. The goal was to identify and compile for easy access – 1.) Ways to get involved 2.) Resources to aid advocacy efforts and 3.) Processes and strategies that are most effective. 4.) New and Innovative Action Strategies that were introduced throughout the provincial PFIB campaign that could be replicated or adapted for use in communities with an active PFIB group. - So the Goal of this project was to develop strategies and mobilize people with actions that they could employ to put the Healthy Food Supplement specifically, and the need to address poverty more broadly, on the public agenda as we head into the October Provincial Election. Here are some of the strategies we are currently working on to make this happen. Bear in mind that we are in the th 5 month of the first year of funding, so the strategies are being developed and utilized as we speak. As a Pilot, we are planning to share our findings with other communities and groups as we develop them through ongoing networking, newsletters and websites of other poverty advocacy groups, email exchange and social marketing avenues. STRATEGIES proposed for 2011 (and ongoing into 2012) a.) MPP Letter writing Campaign - 100 letters for $100 Campaign (100 letters to 7 MPPs in YR) b.) Development of Advocate Teams in the north and south end of the Region: Training of individuals on outreach, advocacy, speaking to the issues, going out to groups, and working with a peer training model c.) Development of a Video to be shared with community members, organizations, volunteers, local politicians, MPPs and MPs, highlighting the importance of Healthy Communities and working to eradicate poverty. d.) Email Advocacy Initiatives: Go Petition for Healthy Food Supplement e.) Teams to visit MPPs to be developed over the summer. Teams will include 1 or 2 members with lived experience and 1 or 2 staff persons or volunteer with knowledge of poverty issues. f.) Specific Campaign to Engage Volunteers from the Emergency Food Sector to support adequate incomes as an alternative to charity – and have a voice at the provincial level. This strategy originated with us and is being shared provincially and replicated in other communities. We have called this the VOLUNTEERS ARE VOTERS TOO... Campaign. It has since evolved to embrace strong advocates from across Ontario who have renamed themselves the FREEDOM 90 INITIATIVE. 9 g.) Placing the HFS in the broader context of other initiatives for Change that are presently taking place o As part of the ISARC Social Audit Report in YR, one recommendation was for the Region to th endorse and support the HFS to the Province. ON January 27 2011 they adopted the recommendations and forwarded their endorsement to the Minister of community and social services, Madeline Meilleur. They also forwarded this to Premier McGuinty. As well to OMSSA – the Ontario Municipal Social Service Association. This was a giant step forward for our Healthy Food Supplement movement in York Region and also helped us to gain leverage with other Municipal governments in Ontario who have also endorsed the Healthy Food Supplement in this past year. o Other Advocacy and Action Related Events such as the screening of the documentary POOR NO MORE that speaks to how poverty has taken a stranglehold in Canada and what options in other countries look like. We had three well attended showings of the documentary in various locations across York Region in May and June 2011. Over 100 people were in attendance at the o We participated in the ISARC (Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition) Faith Leadership Summit in Spring 2011. At this time I was able to speak to Minister Broten (speaker at the event) about the Healthy Food Supplement and our upcoming meeting with her as a coalition.  As the group that orchestrated the York Region Social Audit and report we have maintained a close working relationship with the ISARC leadership and membership which has augmented our advocacy efforts considerably. They are strong supporters of our advocacy work in YR and the PFIB’s work across Ontario. o Participating in the SPNO- PFO Campaign – we invited Marvyn Novick from the Social Planning Network of Ontario to present the Poverty Free Ontario Blueprint and plans for a campaign on th June 7 in York Region. Over 60 people attended the presentation at the Aurora Public Library on June 7, 2011. The event was co-hosted by John Taylor, Regional Councillor for Newmarket and Patricia Taylor, co-chair of the Social Planning Council of York Region. It was sponsored by our own Do the Math Working Group and the AAA Project Planning Committee. Since that time we have:  Orchestrated the YR campaign and participated in the provincial campaign  Created and disseminated advocacy buttons for the province wide campaign  Took the leadership of organizing the PFO Sign Campaign and Launch for York Region on September 15th. We also decided to get very focussed on the Volunteer Target Group. In terms of Constituent Groups that the Government is more likely to listen to and feel the pressure from, we decided it was the Volunteer Sector in this case, primarily the Volunteer Sector responsible for emergency food in the food banks and meal programs, that carried the strongest message and the most weight. 28% increase in food bank use from 2008-2010 and a 25% increase in the provision of meal programs across Ontario alone in 2010 and that is only meal programs associated with known food banks. They are feeling the pinch and are worried about their capacity to meet growing needs. A significant number of the volunteers in food banks and meal programs are women and women in their 60’s and 70’s. Many also realize that this is not the best way of meeting people’s basic needs, and that the government continues to download our collective responsibility 10 to charitable groups and rely on haphazard charitable responses. It is irresponsible and does not even begin to meet the needs let alone do anything to eliminate hunger, despite the claims of organizations such as Daily Bread and the Ontario Association of Food Banks who are continuously trying to walk the tightrope between obtaining charitable donations in order to feed the hungry and raising awareness about the reality and effects of poverty. It has been our experience that to be in the business of doing both is almost impossible because giving the impression that you are and can address hunger through charity, takes the political pressure off of the governments involved to make some radical systemic changes which are necessary in order to alter the everexpanding landscape of poverty in Ontario. More updates and information to follow ......... ***Updates on the Ontario Food Bank Awareness Group ****** July 2011 This group met for the first time at the Community Education Centre Building in Newmarket on June 17, 2011. 21 people were in attendance from York Region and Simcoe Region with four others from across the province on the phone. The group has met 6 times since July 2011 and conference participating agencies/food programs from across Ontario. STATED GOAL AND CHALLENGE TO OTHERS: “Put Food in the Budget and Ease the Burden on Emergency Food Programs”. The Group Invited others to comment on the following: - A 28% increase in food bank use occurred between 2089-2010 - The number of meal programs supported by food banks increased by 25% in 2010. “We need change. We need our governments to step up and provide effective social programs that allow families and individuals to live with health and dignity. We need politicians to be bold and make well-reasoned decisions for the long-term good of our citizens. We need help, because Ontario’s food banks cannot – and should not – have to shoulder this responsibility forever.” Hunger Count 2010. What the Group wants others to know: While there will always be a role for volunteers, there are very real limits to the human resources required. We also believe that it is unreasonable to expect charitable responses to replace adequate income, good jobs and government responsibility for the health and well-being of its citizens. 11 EARLY ADVOCACY PLAN DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH TO DATE 02/20/11 Video Development - Simon Brothers with Powerline Films Sean Meagher – with Public Interest – civic engagement and grassroots mobilization with marginalized populations across Toronto and the GTA; Politicics 101 - 8 hour curriculum on How to Change the minds of Decision Makers Researching numerous organizations that have advocacy tools and sites with information that we can draw from such as the Income Security Advocacy Centre and Public Interest which has said we can use their Politicics 101 - 8 hour curriculum on How to Change the minds of Decision Makers Brent MacKinnon – Social Media Tools - Brent MacKinnon - Social Media and Marketing: Would be willing to come out to a small group to speak to what his tools could achieve for our purposes - 10:30 this Friday or next Tuesday March15th No funds for this work but we could explore the possibilities Charles Beer – letter writing with MPPs Michael Johnny with York U – knowledge broker – partnerships between school and community - Look for a student to do research or perhaps help with social networking possibilities BRAINSTORMING THE ADVOCACY PLAN, VIDEO AND PROJECT VIDEO: 4-7 minutes long - Look at Nippissing Poverty Reduction Group video Awareness of persistence of poverty and food insecurity in YR to begin with. Move from this to Action (letting people know how they can engage) Look at impossible choices, costs of housing, etc. Take a budget approach as Do the Math does Emphasize costs of living and costs of poverty Make it clear, simple, easy to access and understand – combat myths Inadequate income the underlying root cause Identify strategies, solutions, policies, entry point for people to get involved and have a voice either in the video or in accompanying discussion/resource material. Direct to specific advocacy or action steps people can take in this election year such as writing or calling MPP, attending an all candidates meeting, joining a group advocating for change, blogging, VOTING… HFS as a short-term measure with the goal being SA rates indexed to cost of living, a living wage vs minimum (poverty) page, good jobs and safe, affordable housing. 12  Review of Nippissing Video: reflections, feed back & recommendations In opening spoken part, sentences are too long and not punchy enough, Needs more energy, Context and message were good, Technology needs to be updated, Need to frame it for people who are not “us”, Needs solutions, i.e. ways to engage people and to get them to ask “Why does it matter to me?”, Needs a higher newcomer content for our region so it represents our community’s demographics, Too much is focused on the “Do the Math” exercise - roughly 60% - 80% of content.  Developing an Advocacy Tool Kit and Video: what do people need? what can we provide? Dispel the myths: i.e. people can only get a 3-day supply of food from a food bank, At the start and finish, emphasize why we should care, Use real people in it, Outline the costs of poverty, Include a list of catch phrases, e.g. “dignity doesn’t need a middleman”, Use the “Do the Math” tool, Include a list of different ways to work on the issues & have a menu of things that can be done i.e. “talk to a friend”, persistence in being ____, writing letters to MPPs, Editor, attending council meetings, paying attention to what is already happening on issues and in the media. Provide supporting resources e.g. contact info for key people, sample letters  Making the Video: Get video expertise early to help us frame the focus, Perhaps get a specific focus group to review the video work for us as we go along,  Advocacy Plan: who creates it? Who Participates? Some members of this committee Members of the community Representatives from agencies Low-income individuals.  Resources to Help: World Vision’s advocacy guidebook Video “Poor No More”, Income Security Advocacy Centre Stop Community Food Centre – Civic Engagement Work Website ted talks to write letters: www.ted.com/talks  Subgroups of this committee: Advocacy (volunteered to participate so far: Jean, Tracy, Pat) Video (volunteered to participate so far: Tracy) 13 STEPS FOR BUILDING THE ADVOCACY PLAN – February 15, 2011 BUILDING THE GROUP – BUILDING THE PLAN a.) Meetings to develop the plan and strategies b.) Identify the players who want to participate Calls to ISARC Social Audit Focus Group participants Contact Key people who may suggest others who might be interested o Jane Wedlock o Social Action Vaughan o ISARC Planning Table participants - Identify Networks or people who would like to be networked together to respond to advocacy opportunities, for example, Valentines for Dwight Duncan Create an Advocacy Web c.) Identify any sectors that we want represented at our table d.) Re-visit groups we’ve spoken to or made an ASK of and go back with more focussed request e.) Identify ways in which people can participate on a group and virtually in the Advocacy Web o Phone or email tree o Blogging – Facebook - Twitter  My Wong  Theresa from Trinity who is involved in Transition Town o Writing letters to the editor o Keeping up on Council meetings, agendas, reports f.) Identify Agencies who would be sympathetic to the cause (poverty – income- social assistance – HFS) 1.) STRATEGIES a.) Speak to Boards of Directors and implore them to advocate with their MPPs People with lived experience can speak to boards b.) York Region Councillors/staff to make connections with MPPs c.) Ask Agencies to establish their position on Poverty; d.) Ask Agencies and groups to endorse the HFS e.) Reach out to volunteer groups – ask them to advocate with us 2.) ENGAGING LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS - Identifying agencies who work with their clients and do advocacy work with them Identify agencies who would want to do some advocacy work or have clients who would be interested in getting involved. Go out to groups; Speak to them about the options; invite reps to join the subgroups or Do the Math Committee 14 - Workshops on Advocacy – how to present the Do the Math Survey to groups; write letters, Look for opportunities for clients/advocates to present to the boards of the agencies who serve them as a first step; challenge board members to approach MPPs 3.) DELIVERABLES FOR THE PROJECT - Advocacy Tool Kit including Video and Discussion materials - Awareness, Advocacy and Action Plan for 2011 - Network for dissemination of information, calls to action, mobilization efforts - Advocacy Skill Building and training opportunities made available Workshop/ individual instruction/ peer to peer support Go to existing groups and discuss how they might do advocacy - Advocacy Teams set in the summer to be ready to go in the fall, pre-election 4.) Other Ideas Suggested - Holding an all candidates meeting focussing on Poverty. Either one large one to which we invite candidates, or smaller ones. - Perhaps look to other groups to sponsor this with - Advocacy Teams could attend other all candidates meetings being held ADVOCACY COMPONENTS AND DEVELOPMENT - April 4, 2011 ADVOCATES GROUPS (Newmarket – Richmond Hill, Markham - - Advocates Groups – Individuals marginalized by Income who are interested in advocacy efforts around poverty issues; interested in training around reaching out to other people, networking and civic engagement Calendar for meetings with Advocates Groups in north and south Engaging the ISARC contributors from RH along with CL in the south for regular meetings Using POOR NO MORE video as a tool to engage in discussion Letter writing Campaign, phone calls to MPP offices, (potential referendum on HFS) Mailboxes in different locations where people can put their letters to MPPs and Endorsements of the HFS Civic Engagement training tools from Sean Meagher at Public Interest 15 PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES - st Hunger Awareness Day – May 31 ; POOR NO MORE SCREENED IN NEWMARKET Other opportunities to screen Poor No More – in the south and in the north Presentation at Slices for Social Justice – May 19, 2011 POVERTY FREE ONTARIO PRESENTATION – SPNO – June 17, 2011 at Aurora Library 9-12:00 Attending Children, youth and Families Summit in May to arrive at one advocacy voice for York Region – perhaps speak to their advocacy committee prior VIDEO DEVELOPMENT - Video as a tool to motivate and inspire people to get involved – more from awareness to ACTION Call to Action Tool Discussion Tool – Questions prepared for after the Video, which focus on Next Steps for Advocates Website Tool and Presence Accompanied by Powerpoint Presentation that includes more information specific to poverty in York Region and Ontario; and more specific actions that we can engage in locally SOCIAL NETWORKING POSSIBILITIES - Website – Blog on YRFN Website or other websites – who to do this Sending updates to My Wong at Sweet Lovable; other with blogs Twitter Facebook Links in Signature ADVOCACY PLAN FOR PARTNERS INVOLVED - Engaging New Partners at the Do The Math Table Ie. Community Living, Crosslinks – Loft (Housing Worker); members of Advocates grp in NM Ideas: Krasman, Aids Committee, Women’s Centre, Health Centre, Women’s Support Network of York Region, other Food Banks or Meal Programs, Charles Beer, John Rogers(consultants), Sean Meagher Media Awareness Campaign – identifying roles and a calendar for people to plug into; watching for stories to respond to – either online or in the local papers; responding; writing letters to the editor Social Marketing Roles – Blogs, Website updates, (Student ??) Research on Advocacy tools/resources and adapting them to the website for Advocacy Resources Section (Student??) Networking Exercise Chart – to be shared on the website, with other agencies and groups that we present to or are linked to, and the PFIB site. Presentation at various Boards of agencies involved in our Group Requests to speak and present our VIDEO (after June) TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - Sharing what we’ve learned about advocacy opportunities with other agencies and partners Use of Website to share with other groups (beginning anytime) Use of Webinars to do workshops (develop over summer months) Training with advocate groups (ongoing); Tuesday AM in NM; RH group beg April 20th 16 - Some training ideas: How to use the video and discussion tools; use of Language when discussing Determinants of Health – how to bring people on side with the issues; building on opportunities for individuals marginalized by income, to advocate and network with others. OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT, RESEARCH OR PROJECTS - Social Networking Support Research on Advocacy Models to utilize Webinar development for training purposes Other tools for networking ie. AVAAZ AAA PROJECT: ADVOCACY TOOL KIT VIDEO AND DISCUSSION GUIDE LINK TO THE VIDEO: “IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE THE WORLD” http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ FACILITATOR’S DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR AAA VIDEO 1.) Introduce the Video The Video – developed in York Region for use by all individuals and groups advocating for positive change in the realm of inadequate income, food security and poverty. 2.) Watch the Video Together 3.) Introduction to the Tool Kit available to assist Advocates in taking action. Questions: a.) Were you aware of the extent of poverty in York Region? b.) What were your first impressions or reactions after viewing the video? c.) Was there anything that you questioned or that seemed unbelievable to you? 17 d.) Before watching the video did you know anyone living in poverty? Since watching it, has your view of anything related to poverty of the people in your circle who may be living close to or in poverty, changed and HOW? e.) Why is it important to put this struggle into historical context? f.) Do you agree that it’s not too late or do you think that it is? g.) Before you came to watch the video, did you have ideas as to how you might take action on poverty in your community, city, region, province or country? h.) Do you think individual efforts can make a difference towards eradicating poverty? i.) Who do you think are your allies in this effort? j.) Who do you think are your enemies or put in a nicer way, who do you think would challenge you and put up a barrier to addressing poverty? Review the Suggested Actions in the Video highlighted towards the end. What suggested actions do you think you could take after leaving here today, to further the implementation of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario? What actions can you think of that aren’t on the video list? Who would you want to work with to accomplish your goals? Are any of those people in this room right now? Action right now: Break out into small groups, take one action and discuss it. Each group come up with a second action that you think you can execute upon leaving here today, either individually or as a group. Would this be an action the small group would plan to carry out or one you want to invite the entire gathering here today, to participate in? Options for Taking Further Action: ** Resources available on hand at the presentation a.) Signing a Commitment – or Challenge Contract with the Group ** b.) Completing the Endorsement Sheet for the Healthy Food Supplement ** c.) Participating in Advocacy Training – Talk to the facilitator of this session Learning how to share the information, engage others and respond to difficult or challenging questions being posed to you about the issues. d.) Doing a presentation to another group e.) Complete the Brainstorming Advocacy/Actions Exercise Sheet and take it with you ** PRODUCTION OF THE VIDEO Early Version of the script 18 Introduction I used to focus my attention on my home and my family. I knew that there were people who struggled financially in our community, but I didn’t feel like there was very much I could do about that. Well, I still worry about my family, my home, and my mortgage, but now I know that there is something that we can all do about poverty. I know that all families can have a comfortable home and a hopeful future, just like my family has. I believe that all families can have a comfortable home and a hopeful future, just like my family has. What we’re working towards – Let’s talk about what we Want! A healthy community (word graphic) – is a place where we all want to live, raise our kids, work, learn, play and do business. (spoken and appears on screen) ( Images flow in of healthy community ) (some of these can be shown with images) People achieve their fullest potential when they are able to take control of those things which determine their health and well-being. (being able to purchase healthy food, live in a safe home and neighbourhood, get an education, work and earn a living wage) In simple terms, our health starts where we live, learn, work and play. (more images) For a long time our definition of health has been limited to treatment and what we do when we’re sick or hurt. Go to doctors or hospitals, take medications, miss work) The costs of helping people get healthy are very high. (stat) (Image of a person in a busy waiting room at the hospital) If we expand our definition of health (and opportunities for health) we have more places to intervene to improve the overall health of everyone. Health doesn’t begin in the doctor’s office or the hospital - it begins long before that. Our health is significantly affected by our homes, jobs and schools. And the good news is that it costs less to prevent illness and injury in the first place than to treat or rehabilitate people afterward. 1.) So what are some aspects of our Communities – where we live, work, learn and play, that we can invest resources in and create opportunities for people to be as healthy as possible. Or, 2.) So where can we invest our resources to create opportunities for people to be as healthy as possible Adequate access to food, water, shelter, income, safety, health services and recreation for all. Clean and safe (physical environment (homes, neighbourhoods, parks, streets, workplaces) Diverse and vital economy with good jobs and wages that reflect the cost of living Workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well-being Opportunities for life long learning and skill development Strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks Wide participation of residents in decision-making Or Access to adequate food, water, shelter, income, safety, health services and recreation for all. Clean and safe homes, neighbourhoods, parks, streets, workplaces (air and water). 19 Access to good jobs and wages that reflect the cost of living Workplaces that support individual and family well-being Opportunities for life ong learning and skill development Strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks Wide participation of residents in decision-making Protection of the natural environment and responsible use of our resources (Happy, healthy community scenes wind down, or images start disappearing (puzzle pieces disappear, or the edges start burning to the centre .) We lose these conditions so slowly that we don’t even realize what we are losing. HOWEVER, even what we have can be lost if we don`t protect it. Reality / The Facts – Here`s the Reality Today – In Canada, Ontario and YR In Canada we have a world class health care system but we are losing ground in areas that threaten the health of ordinary Canadians. - We are creating more precarious (low wage, seasonal, part-time) jobs than most other countries in the developed world Income is concentrated in the top 3% of the population leading to the shrinking of the middle class and growing numbers of people at risk for unemployment, poverty and homelessness. Overall, we are investing less in community resources and human services, opportunities for education and training, the arts, and recreation that benefit all of us. The very things that define our quality of life are being eroded Poverty plays a big part in threatening our health and our communities by robbing ALL OF US of opportunities. Here is a snapshot of our communities in York Region and ways in which poverty is affecting us… - - In 2006, approximately 13% of people in York Region lived in low income households. Yet, the median income for economic families in York Region was $89,099 per year in 2005. Unemployment stats In 2006, 48% of tenant-occupied residences in York Region spent 30% or more of their household income on housing costs. Households are considered to have housing affordability problems if more than 30% of household income is spent on housing costs. Highest % in GTA of people who pay more than 30% of their income on rent Food Bank use has increased by 28% over the past two years Food banks and other charity measures are not an answer to poverty. For example, food banks provide emergency food supplies BUT Food banks rely on donations and have a limited selection of foods They restrict visits to once a month because their supplies are limited They only give 2 to 4 days worth of food, which is often not enough Fresh food storage facilities are limited or non- existent and therefore the supply of nutrient rich fresh foods is lacking Many people who cannot afford to feed their families will not access food banks due to stigma and humiliation or lack of transportation. Bottom line …. 20 All Canadians should have the opportunity to make choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their income, education, or ethnic background. However… We are all closer than we think to the poverty line. (the line below which people do not have enough income to live healthily) - - Story of the middle class auto worker who lost his job, lost his house, lost his car, lost his community because he had to move for a job…… (“Hard working Canadians who have gotten squeezed out of the middle class during tough times.”) Story of woman who got sick, lost her car, job (Could show the graphic of the shrinking middle class – the hourglass – poor and rich groups are growing faster) There is no doubt about it ….. Poverty affects and COSTS US ALL - - $30 Billion per year is the price tag for poverty and its related costs – lost work time, productivity and health costs combined. (The federal and Ontario governments are losing at least 10.4 to $13.1 billion dollars a year due to poverty. The federal and provincial governments in Canada lose between $8.6 billion and $13 billion in income tax revenue to poverty every year )(Which is true In real terms, poverty costs every household in Ontario between $2,300 and 2,900 every year. Are there other options - Some countries invest more the in the health of their entire population and save money in the long-run. - Countries such as Denmark for example, that are considered high-tax countries are more successful in achieving their social objectives than low-tax countries and (have not suffered economic)(continued to prosper economically) Some of the benefits of countries with higher taxation levels and higher investments in health include:  Lower rates of poverty  Higher pensions for the elderly  More equally distributed incomes  More gender equality  More economic security  Lower infant mortality rate  Longer life expectancy  Higher levels of education  Higher physical security and  Lower homicide rates  Less drug use  More leisure time  More life satisfaction and  Higher environmental protection  Studies have shown that high-tax countries have been more successful in achieving their social objectives than low-tax countries, and have done so with no economic penalty. Lower rates of poverty, higher pensions for the elderly, more equally distributed incomes, more gender equality, more economic security, lower infant mortality rates, longer life expectancy, higher levels of education, higher physical security and lower homicide rates, less drug use, more leisure time, more life satisfaction, and higher environmental protection are all found in countries with high taxation levels. - 21 Compare 50’s or 60’s to now (Yvonne - or – compare high-tax countries to low-tax countries… I have a great study on that….) Solutions Improving the social safety net is required to address poverty. Increasing Ontario social assistance and minimum wage rates to adequately meet the needs for food and shelter. For example, the Ontario Works rate for a single person today is $592 per month. That rate was $640 before the 1995 cuts to rates. When inflation is considered, people on social assistance have lost almost 40% of their purchasing power. Establishing affordable housing. Improving federal employment insurance coverage and benefits Providing accessible and affordable childcare Creating safe pedestrian transit routes to food stores (grocery stores, farms, farmers’ markets) Ensuring that healthy food is available in every neighbourhood and preventing “food deserts” in urban centres Legislation that creates more full-time work, worker’s benefits and good wages Transportation options that are affordable and efficient st An education system that prepares all of our children for life and work in the 21 century. So that for all students, regardless of what socio-economic background they come from, so that school is the one place where they can all feel equal and have opportunities to dream and succeed. A well connected community that wants everyone to succeed, is a safer, more inclusive place where crime does not flourish. A place where we know each other, take care of and watch out for each other. A caring and well-functioning community that optimizes the talents, strengths and potential of all its citizens, is a place where businesses want to establish themselves and invest in. This is the place we all want to live, learn, work and play. Get Involved / Action Educate yourself about the root causes of poverty. Attend local food security meetings, discussions and community events. Find out why charitable responses alone are not an adequate way to reduce food insecurity. Support a strong social safety net, and the taxation levels that would support the goods and services that Canadians collectively provide for each other. Visit www.putfoodinthebudget.ca and complete the Do the Math survey tool developed by The Stop Community Food Centre. The survey clarifies the true monthly costs of living in Ontario and compares that to the income of an individual on social assistance. The website provides more information on the issue as well as suggestions for follow-up action. 22 Participate in coalitions to advocate for policies to reduce poverty and create a stronger social safety net for Ontarians, such as the York Region Do the Math Working Group and the Poverty Action for Change Coalition. Volunteer in your community to support programs such as student nutrition programs, community kitchens, community gardens or Good Food Box programs. We can all be part of that: ie. Join your school council, grow a garden and eat local foods, learn about workplace safety, find out more about how your governments allocate resources and advocate for investments that improve the health of your community for everyone. ***** Final Version of the Script Title: It’s not Too Late Build a Better World Scene 1 Hi there... I’m Sarah. Growing up I can’t recall knowing people who didn’t have enough to eat or a place to live. Today I realize there are more people who struggle in the very community I grew up in. Let’s talk about changes that can be made so that we can all live in a healthy community. Scene 2 So what does a “healthy community” look like? (Simple) It’s a place where WE ALL want to live, work, learn, play and do business. A place where we ALL enjoy… Enough healthy food Adequate income Clean and safe homes Good jobs and a strong economy Education for all **** A clean, healthy environment Scene 3 So, what’s our reality today? - We are investing less in preventive health and community services that benefit all of us. - We are creating more low wage, seasonal and part-time jobs without benefits 23 - More people need to hold 2 or more jobs to get by and many are living 1 or 2 pay cheques away from having to rely on some form of outside help. Scene 4 How have York Region communities been affected/ - Poverty increased by 55% in just five years in York Region. - Nearly half of all renters in York Region spent more than 30% of their income on housing placing them at significantly greater risk for eviction and homelessness. - Food Bank use increased by 20% over the past two years since 2008. Almost half of the people using the food bank are working. More seniors on fixed incomes are relying on emergency food programs. (Chart of graph low income cut-off – plotting single person on OW rate and full-time min wage income person to show where they are in relation to the poverty line – need to find one that represents this clearly – bar graph showing person on OW at $7,200 individual working full-time at minimum wage making 19,500 gross and LINC Low Income Cut-off at $18,000.00 Scene 5 Many Ontarians are closer than we think to the poverty line and poor health. Here is the story of a family that NEVER THOUGHT IT COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. For eighteen years I worked at a job in the automotive industry. When my wife and I were laid off two years ago, we both started looking for work right away. (My wife got a part-time job as a clerk I a local grocery store and) I’ve applied for over seventy jobs. We are forced to rely on the food bank to get us through the month and even that isn’t enough. We can’t let this continue. Scene 6 Poverty affects US ALL and robs us of healthy communities. The costs associated with lost work time, productivity and health care needs directly related to poverty are 13 billion dollars a year. Research shows that it costs society $34,000 year to provide supportive housing for a single person; by contrast it costs $134,000 in health care, law enforcement and social service interventions when a person is homeless. When people are poor it hurts the bottom line of all Canadians. 24 Scene 7 SO WHAT CAN WE DO, to turn the tables and create balanced and healthy communities where opportunities exist for everyone? We need... - Policies that create good jobs - More affordable housing. - Accessible and affordable child care - Better employment insurance that works. - A quality education system - Adequate and affordable transportation - Healthy food available in every neighbourhood “Sounds like a healthy community to me!” Putting these basic elements of a healthy community into place leads to more people being able to work, pay taxes, buy goods and services, stimulate the economy, and contribute to their own community Which increases the quality of life for the EVERYONE. In several wealthy, developed nations with more balanced income levels many of the basics are considered citizen rights. As a result, they enjoy lower rates of poverty, more economic security, higher pensions for the elderly, higher levels of education, longer life expectancy, more leisure time and increased life satisfaction. If they can do it, why can’t we? SCENE 9 It’s important to REMEMBER that many of the rights we enjoy today, such as universal health care, women’s right to vote and the Canadian Pension Plan were not always in place. They were won through the struggles of Canadians who fought for fairness of opportunities. WE IF WORK TOGETHER TODAY as they did, we can create communities that optimize the health, talents, strengths and potential of all citizens. “So LETS TAKE ACTION. I leave you with some things to TALK ABOUT and then to CARRY OUT in your own community. Please Join me - Together We can CREATE a better world for everyone – it’s not too late.” 25 SCENE 10 Song Begins and runs through as the YOU CAN ITEMS roll through on the screen. - You can learn, act, take a stand Watch the movie “Poor No More” Contact your elected representatives: phone, write a letter, e-mail Have conversations about these issues Advocate for healthy communities Write a letter to the editor Vote Websites to visit: (scroll well-spaced so time to read) York Region Food Network www.yrfn.ca Dignity for All www.dignityforall.ca Poverty Free Ontario www.povertyfreeontario.ca Poverty Action for Change Coalition www.povertyacc.com Put Food in the Budget www.putfoodinthebudget.ca Campaign 2000 www.campaign2000.ca 25 in 5: Network for Poverty Reduction www.25in5.ca Social Planning Network of Ontario www.spno.ca (still rolling on the screen) 26 ‘COURAGE MY FRIENDS, tis not too late to build a better world…’ Tommy Douglas, the Father of Medicare in Canada Scene CREDITS - Continue to Close out with the Song – GO and Change the World – Funded by Heart and Stroke (need logo) Health Messaging and Language for the Script Our core message emphasized “new pathways for improved health that recognize the integral relationship between our health and where and how we live, learn, work and play.” More importantly, the research identified ways to frame our messages about health differences that would resonate across the political spectrum. How do we find a common language that will expand Americans’ views about what it means to be healthy—to include not just where health ends but also where it starts? If we can answer this question, we can pave the way for more solutions that address this critical link between our health and where we live, learn, work and play. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and at universities around the country have shown that the conditions in which people live and work have more than five times the effect on our health than all the errors doctors and hospitals make Combined.” Change to reflect that conditions represent more effect than personal choices, lifestyles and behaviors. Regardless of how good or reliable the data is, this research showed us that less is more. If you can use two facts instead of three, use two. Or better yet, use just one great fact. When introducing information to people who may be skeptical about social determinants, we found that more facts made people feel like they were being sold or spun. Context is important If you are using multiple facts, they should be complementary in advancing your message. For example, use one that underscores the problem and another that highlights the promise of an approach. http//sites.google.com/factsthatfightfiction. Republicans view poor health as arising from bad choices along one’s path and the inability to overcome obstacles to health that one encounters along the way. Rather than employing the Democratic frame of externally‐imposed barriers that trap communities in poverty and low levels of health, Republicans frame poor levels of health in terms of a failure to give individuals in a community “a road map of how to achieve [health].” Republicans view poor health as arising from bad choices along one’s path and the inability to overcome obstacles to health that one encounters along the way. Rather than employing the Democratic frame of externally‐imposed barriers that trap communities in poverty and low levels of health, Republicans frame poor levels of health in terms of a failure to give individuals in a community “a road map of how to achieve [health].” 27 Republican: - Unpredictable jorurney Limited resources Balance - it is natural that there will be differences in individual’s health; minimum acceptable level We should, however, establish a minimum acceptable level, providing enough resources that people are able to achieve health goals they set for themselves. A Republican states, “There [are] bound to be differences in health outcomes, there are good reasons why some people should be healthier than others. As long as we are willing to live in a society where people are different and given different levels of income, [we] will have to have different levels.” the best solution to health disparities as a balance between what is provided by the government and what is expected of the individual. Neither one of these entities should bear the sole burden of raising levels of health in poor communities. “Government makes decisions…and there has to be some balancing of altruistic motivation to redistribute and efficiency,” meaning that we should infuse resources into the best places, but we should expect individuals to take personal responsibility in using them.19 Dumbing down of the communication to engage the conservatives communication strategy would employ language and images that were more in line with how Republicans frame the issue. Use these Fair chance for good health • Opportunities for better health choices • Giving a fair shot in all communities • Enabling people to choose the right path • Giving tools to make better decisions Avoid These • Equality in health • Equal levels of health • Uniform health • Ending disparities • Closing the health divide Foundation talked about “resource‐poor neighborhoods” that do not offer “the same choices” for individuals to pursue paths to better health. We can focus on language that conveys the lack of options, choices, tools, resources, or opportunities in poor neighborhoods rather than inequality, barriers to health, or systems of factors working against the poor. This allows the Foundation to discuss the social determinants of health, but in a way that also resonates at a deeper level with Republicans. Choosing better paths, moving in the right direction, or enabling the pursuit of health goals all activate the frame of journey and individual responsibility more effectively than words like: lifting people out of poverty, breaking boundaries, or providing access to health, all of which evoke the Democratic frame of containers of poverty. Conveying these social problems using individual stories supported by only a few powerful statistics or facts will also help to persuade skeptics more than many facts and figures. This would be particularly effective in trying to persuade a Republican skeptic; 28 telling the story of an individual who could not exercise in a poor community due to the lack of a safe place to go jogging and a community program that provided an effective solution, which this individual took advantage of and subsequently lost weight, for example, would activate the frame of an individual journey while concentrating on one of the shared constructs on the map. The example of the person needing a safe place to go jogging would further illustrate the idea of government helping individuals exert control and what individuals can accomplish when in a safe environment. Balance between government responsibility and personal choice. GOALS The goal of this multi-phase project was to translate the concept of social determinants (and ultimately calls for action that stem from it) that might otherwise sound bland or unintelligible to the lay ear—even the educated ear— into compelling, motivating messages that not only create concern about the way things are but create hope that problems related to social determinants are solvable (e.g., that something can be done about disparities that lead to shorter, less productive, less healthy lives for millions of people based on factors that are arbitrary or outside their control). CHALLENGE convincing voting public in order to influence decision makers Translation of the language of science into the language of policy-makers—and, ultimately, the language of everyday people, whose support is essential to convince decision-makers that they can and should act on the available science, particularly where it bears on what they perceive as moral questions (e.g., health disparities). Linking networks that are not currently or adequately linked in their minds (e.g., that health is the flipside of disease and hence deserves more significant attention, or that health does not begin at the doctor’s office or the hospital). Effective communication uses language in the vernacular of target audiences that is clear, evocative, and readily remembered and retold, making use of the “story structure” to which our brains evolved to respond. The other messages were designed to be more values-driven and evocative, building on both the theoretical approach underlying this research— attempting to “work with” rather than against the way our brains naturally work. This was accomplished by using a strong narrative structure, attempting to be emotionally evocative and involving, and focusing on the values that could bring voters on board. This approach was helpful particularly with disparities messages, RESPONDENTS Respondents preferred messages that focused more broadly on how a problem affects all Americans rather than on one group or another. of what the problem is but either an example of the kind of action we could take to fix it or a set of principles for going from where we are now to where we need to be. Without a solution, they would frequently respond by saying that they saw the problem, but they couldn’t see the solution. Americans tend to view their health as something largely under their control—and for which they have to take— and expect others to take—personal responsibility. This is consistent with American culture and with previous 29 research conducted for the Foundation over the last few years. It is also an important theme to address in messages that appeal to Americans on social determinants, particularly messages about health disparities, which Americans readily attribute to a lack of responsible behaviour, even when presented with data suggesting otherwise. This is also consistent with what social psychologists have called the “just world hypothesis,” a tendency of people (at least in the West) to want to believe that people get what they deserve (that the world is just rather than morally capricious) and hence, to blame people for their own victimization or misfortunate, whether or not they had any genuine role in contributing to it. Americans do not “naturally” contextualize health socially, but when presented with effective efforts to influence them, they not only “move” in their beliefs but move substantially. A central principle of messaging that applied in this research as in other domains is that Americans have an aversion to messages that start negative. 1. LEADS THE WORLD Nationlism and leadership America leads the world in medical research and medical care, and for all we spend on health care, we should be the healthiest people on Earth. Yet on some of the most important indicators, like how long we live, we’re not even in the top 25, behind countries like Bosnia and Jordan. It’s time for America to lead again on health, and that means taking three steps. The first is to ensure that everyone can afford to see a doctor when they’re sick. The second is to build preventive care like screening for cancer and heart disease into every health care plan and make it available to people who otherwise won’t or can’t go in for it, in malls and other public places, where it’s easy to stop for a test. The third is to stop thinking of health as something we get at the doctor’s office but instead as something that starts in our families, in our schools and workplaces, in our playgrounds and parks, and in the air we breathe and the water we drink. The more you see the problem of health this way, the more opportunities you have to improve it. Scientists have found that the conditions in which we live and work have an enormous impact on our health, long before we ever see a doctor. It’s time we expand the way we think about health to include how to keep it, not just how to get it back. TOTAL: 78.2 SWING: 77.4 ELITE: 79.0 2. START WHERE HEALTH STARTS - Begins with an inspirational message It’s time we made it possible for all Americans to afford to see a doctor, but it’s also time we made it less likely that they need to. Where people live, learn, work and play has an enormous impact whether they stay well in the first place. Health starts in strong, loving families and in neighbourhoods with sidewalks safe for walking and grocery stores with fresh vegetables. Health starts in jobs we can get to without hours of commuting and in work places free of unnecessary hazards. Health starts in schools that educate our children for the jobs of the 21st century so they can compete in the world economy, that feed them healthy meals rather than junk foods, and that send them home safe at the end of the day. And health starts in having the time and financial resources to play at the end of a hard day’s work, because unrelieved stress takes its toll on our hearts and immune systems. As we work on fixing health care in America, we need to start where health starts, not just where it ends. TOTAL: 74.1 SWING: 75.5 ELITE: 72.7 STICKINESS “we need to start where health starts, not where it ends,” that has the property marketers describe as “stickiness”—that is, characterized by the tendency to “stick” in people’s minds. POWER OF 3 People can generally read, hear, and follow three examples or themes in a message, but beyond that, they find the message incoherent or difficult to remember. 30 DRAWING ON MULTIPLE VALUES Like the other messages, this one draws on a mix of values, some of which are familiar to public health and some of which draw associative links to other domains and hence increase its power: families, communities, nurturance, safety, prosperity, dignity, respect, safe work, fair wages, business, religion and leadership . One of the central characteristics of good messages is that they activate multiple values, not simply one (good health). In so doing, they activate the positive feelings associated with each of those values unconsciously, which has an impact that is sometimes additive and sometimes multiplicative 3. SOCIAL BY NATURE We are social by nature, and when the ties that bind begin to unravel, so does our health. Health begins at home in our families, with a loving relationship between parents and their children, where kids can expect to be safe, nurtured and protected. Health begins with healthy communities, with safe streets, freedom from violence, and parks where kids can play. Health begins with a good education, where children learn not only how to read, write, and prepare for fulfilling, prosperous life, but how to treat each other with dignity and respect. And health begins with safe jobs and fair wage, where people derive a sense personal satisfaction from their work and connection to their co-workers. No institution alone can restore a healthy America that nurtures families and communities. That will require leadership, and a partnership of business, government, and civic and religious institutions. We can’t eradicate illness, but we can foster health. And health begins with healthy relationships, healthy communities, and healthy jobs, which protect us from the stress of everyday life. That’s one prescription that doesn’t require a copay. Linking health and prosperity - one increases the existence and possibility of the other. 4. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY People have a personal responsibility to take care of themselves and their health. But it isn’t right when things outside our control—like where we’re born or how much money we make—affect our health. In the entire city of Detroit—an area of nearly 150 square miles—there are dozens of “convenience stores” but only five grocery stores. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but you have to be able to buy an apple. And it isn’t easy to get exercise if you have to work three jobs just to get by, or if you can’t easily get affordable day care for your kids. We’re not just talking about the rich versus the poor. On Average, middle class Americans live shorter lives than those who are wealthy, and that’s not right. Money can’t buy happiness, and it shouldn’t buy health. We have to take responsibility for our lives and decisions. But all Americans should have an equal opportunity to make the decisions that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their level of income, education, or ethnicity. TOTAL: 71.4 SWING: 73.9 ELITE: 6 LEADS with Personal Responsibility and then goes into fairness Perhaps most importantly, like virtually all effective messages on issues related to race, ethnicity, and social disparities, the narrative starts right and moves left. It begins with a value that all Americans share but is central to conservative ideologies, particularly when applied to people who are readily viewed as “them” rather than “us,” namely personal responsibility. KEYS TO EFFECTIVE MESSAGING ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS • Americans, including opinion elites, do not spontaneously consider social influences on health. They tend to think about health and illness in medical terms, as something that starts at the doctor’s office, the hospital, or the pharmacy. They recognize the impact of health care on health, and spontaneously recognize the importance of prevention, but they do not tend to think of social factors that impact health. 31 • They do, however, recognize social factors and see their importance when primed. Raising awareness of social factors is not difficult, although people more readily recognize voluntary behaviors that cause illness (e.g., smoking, overeating) than arbitrary or social factors (e.g., race, ethnicity, income). • Americans, including elites, do not resonate with the language of “social determinants of health,” but they do resonate with the core construct. When presented with the compelling narratives, Americans recognize the importance of both the social context and health disparities. • Messages that sway Americans, including elites, are values-based and emotion-laden, not overly academic. Messages that sway Americans describe both facts and policy prescriptions at a moderate level of specificity– that is, at the level of principles or examples, not specific policy prescriptions or 10-point plans. • Americans consciously believe in equal opportunity to health, but messages that describe disparities evoke negative reactions unless written carefully to avoid victim-blaming and to emphasize the importance of people exercising personal responsibility. Messages about disparities trigger unconscious prejudice unless carefully constructed to redefine “them” as “us.” • Messages that mix traditionally conservative values (e.g., the value of small business) with traditional progressive values (e.g., equal opportunity) tend to fare better in speaking to health disparities. - Starting right and moving left is important in connecting with conservative Americans, who tend to believe that hierarchies are natural and reflect poor choices, bad judgement or bad behaviour. - Notes for Power-Point Presentations to Accompany the Video Titles……….. THE BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY VS the costs of poverty Prosperity or poverty - it’s OUR CHOICE…. - Poverty exists in York Region and in most communities across Ontario. The themes that came out of the York Region Social Audit and 23 other social audits across Ontario in 2010 confirm this. Poverty is also quite prevalent and on the increase in communities across Canada. While this is disturbing and not acceptable, it at least tells us that it is an issue that we cannot afford to ignore. Poverty is a problem that we all share and this is going to require all of us to recognize it and do something about it. What do you think of when you think of Poverty? What images come to mind? - Hungry children? Run-down neighbourhoods? A soup kitchen? People in far-away third world countries? It’s true that poverty in our own communities doesn’t often conjur up the same images as we see on television. Poverty can be less obvious in our own neighbourhoods and many times it is even invisible. It can be 3 families sharing one home or a family of 9 living in a rented 2 bedroom apartment. It can be an unemployed person who chooses out of pride not to go to the food bank or a senior who can’t get out to a meal program for any number of reasons. Poverty is a truly isolating experience so much of it goes unnoticed but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. People often go to great limits to mask that they 32 are poor because of the stigma that is associated with not having enough income and the judgement and embarrassment that goes along with that. Here are a few facts about Poverty in our own communities in York Region that you may or may not have realized before. There are also a lot of MYTHS about Poverty that are quite prevalent. These myths are commonly held beliefs that people hold about people with less income. Unfortunately beliefs shape attitudes and behaviours towards other people and even play a big role in the making of public policies, rules and legislation that affects all of us, but mainly those who have less power in the system – those with less income. Here are some of those myths. In uncovering the myths, we find some of the reasons why we need to address poverty. We also uncover some of the ways in which we CAN do this – some new directions to go in that will benefit everyone. MYTHS: Put the myths in a language that will be better received or at least the truths. a.) b.) c.) There are many trends and factors that contribute to the increasing number of people living in poverty and the increasing hardships faced by individuals living without enough income. VULNERABLE POPULATIONS DESCRIBED DIFFERENTLY BELOW Vulnerable Populations • Too many Americans don’t have the same opportunities to be as healthy as others • Americans who face significant barriers to better health • People whose circumstances have made them vulnerable to poor health • All Americans should have the opportunity to make the choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their income, education, or ethnic background • Our opportunities to better health begin where we live, learn, work and play • People’s health is significantly affected by their homes, jobs and schools 33 Health Disparities • Raising the bar for everyone • Setting a fair and adequate baseline of care for all • Lifting everyone up • Giving everyone a chance to live a healthy life • Unfair • Not right • Disappointing (as in Americans should be able to do better, not let people fall through the cracks) • It’s time we made it possible for all Americans to afford to see a doctor, but it’s also time we made it less likely that they need to Poverty • Families who can’t afford the basics in life • Americans who struggle financially • Americans struggling to get by Low-income workers and families • People who work for a living and still can’t pay their rent • Hard-working Americans who have gotten squeezed out of the middle class in tough times • Families whose dreams are being foreclosed One of those factors is the higher costs of foods and the lack of nutritious foods in low-income neighbourhoods, often referred to as food desserts. Large Grocery chains which stand to profit more in wealthy suburban neighbourhoods, move out of the downtown core leaving small convenience and corner grocery stores to provide food for those who have the least to spend. Without transportation or even with factoring in the cost of transportation, the poor pay more to buy the same foods as the rest of us. Or, they don’t buy the same food, still pay more, and lack access to health or fresh foods. The Poor Still Pay More: Challenges low-income families face in consuming a nutritious diet. Competitiveness and Prosperity, Open Policy Ontario and Toronto Public Health Institute for Anyway you cut it, Poverty affects us ALL. Not just because most of us closer to the Poverty Line than we actually realize. But because we all live in communities where our neighbours are being kept down, isolated and are unable to maintain their own health because of limited access to income. Diagram of shrinking middle Class - Adelina used in her presentation to Community and Healthy Services th Committee on January 27 . Diagram of the poverty line showing where people fall below and by how much and where most people are in relation to it – perhaps also show a prosperity line above which only about 5% of Canadians are. (Draw from Denis Raphael Report for facts) What can a person on Minimum Wage today and 60 years ago.. It wasn’t always this way in Canada. In the 1950’s a family of four could live on one minimum wage salary….. 34 Today a single person cannot afford to live by themselves on minimum wage - Cost of food has gone up % in the past 10 years alone Cost of Transportation Cost of fuel/hydro Cost of housing – and not investment in affordable housing. The Costs of Poverty – some are obvious and some are not so obvious. - Lost potential - on an individual, community and societal level; governments - Article on Productivity Race with David Dodge; Poor Still Pay More Health Care Costs Compromised investments in education and mental health services when you don’t address the fact that people can’t afford food and housing ENOUGH ABOUT POVERTY – WHAT WE DON’T WANT Let’s talk about what we do Want - A Healthy, Caring, Inclusive and Prosperous Community, Province, county. We’ll focus on our community for now, where you can really hope to affect some change. What are the qualities and aspects of this community that you would want to see: BRAINSTORM or leave until after the film Fair chance for good health • Opportunities for better health choices • Giving a fair shot in all communities • Enabling people to choose the right path • Giving tools to make better decisions OUR VIDEO BEGINS RIGHT THERE – WE NOT ONLY WANT TO ENVISION THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SOME DECISION ABOUT WHAT ROLE WE CAN HAVE IN CREATING IT AND THE ACTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY. VIDEO - Creating OUR Community: From Awareness to Action The goal of this multi-phase project was to translate the concept of social determinants (and ultimately calls for action that stem from it) that might otherwise sound bland or unintelligible to the lay ear—even the educated ear— into compelling, motivating messages that not only create concern about the way things are but create hope that problems related to social determinants are solvable (e.g., that something can be done about disparities that lead to shorter, less productive, less healthy lives for millions of people based on factors that are arbitrary or outside their control). Let’s begin by looking at what the community that we want looks like – Some call it a Healthy Community – others call it a Caring Community or an Inclusive Community – We All agree that it is a place that we want to live in, raise our kids in, work in, play in and do business in. A place worth investing in to make sure everyone can realize their potential. 35 Fair chance for good health • Opportunities for better health choices • Giving a fair shot in all communities • Enabling people to choose the right path • Giving tools to make better decisions IMAGES OF A HEALTHY COMMUNITY – PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, KIDS IN A SCHOOL AT A BREAKFAST PROGRAM, IN THE PLAYGROUND, AT WORK, ART IN THE PARK, KIDS PLAYING SPORTS, A FARMERS MARKET, COMMUNITY GARDEN, A FESTIVAL OR PARADE, A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH CARE CENTRE, BIKING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, SPORTS AND EXERCISE This is what we get when we take care of our community – of each other. When we make it possible for everyone to succeed. We all want to live in such a community. List some of the Attributes of a Healthy Community – they can come flowing into the picture- schools where all children can participate in all activities, full employment, no homelessness, Where people live, learn, work and play has an enormous impact whether they stay well in the first place. Health starts in strong, loving families and in neighborhoods with sidewalks safe for walking and grocery stores with fresh vegetables. Health starts in jobs we can get to without hours of commuting and in work places free of unnecessary hazards. Health starts in schools that educate our children for the jobs of the 21st century so they can compete in the world economy, that feed them healthy meals rather than junk foods, and that send them home safe at the end of the day. And health starts in having the time and financial resources to play at the end of a hard day’s work, because unrelieved stress takes its toll on our hearts and immune systems. As we work on improving health care in Canada, we need to start where health starts, not just where it ends. While access to health care needs to be available to everyone, one goal is to invest in the health of individuals so they require fewer incidence of care or treatment, which is costly. Policies that providing equal opportunities for everyone to make good health choices and maintain their health (regardless of income level) by being able to afford nutritious food and a safe place to live for example, are critical in building strong, vibrant communities. The kind of communities we’re talking about. Health begins where we live, learn, work and play. Factors outside of the medical care system impact how healthy—or unhealthy—we are. We create new opportunities for better health by investing in health where it starts—in our homes, schools and jobs. ______ What happens when we don’t take care of our community – of each other? When it costs all of us something to keep this vision a reality for all of our members? What happens when global and economic circumstances weigh heavier on some of our neighbours than others and it becomes necessary for everyone to share a bit more to keep everyone afloat? Do we take care of those who are most vulnerable to change and stress knowing that we might someday be in that position? Or What happens when we become convinced that we have more in common and share the same aspirations as the individuals at the top end of the economic ladder? What can happen when we fail to recognize that those in the 36 middle have more in common with those on the lower rungs than those at the top? What can happen when we stop taking collective responsibility for the community and when we start blaming hardship on individuals as a way of relinquishing our responsibility for caring for them and in turn our communities? This section may alienate those who are at the top end by assuming we’re only speaking to the middle class. How to set up motivation for collective responsibility or maybe this is radical language. Two Stark Points…. Income levels have a direct impact on health outcomes…. ie. Where people live has a direct impact on their ability to access healthy food ie. food deserts THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS…. And it doesn’t happen overnight….. HAPPY HEALTHY COMMUNITY SCENES COME TO A GRINDING HALT…….Poverty has descended and/or taken a stranglehold on our community. Has invaded our space in a very ??? Way. - A Lot of Factors contribute to this breakdown in a community, in a family, to an individual. Sometimes these factors or conditions evolve so slowly that we don’t even realize what is happening – we lose sight of the bigger picture – of reality. Looking back to a time when things were different and going forward can be a way of identifying what really did happe. And if we’re going to change things, right the wrongs, we need to be aware, clear and conscious of the issues. Let’s go back to the 50’s the days of ______________________ Income - Cost of Living Vs Minimum Wage - Costs of Essentials – food, housing, a vehicle. Employment Crime Compare that with today: Show the evolution of society and economy that plays such a large role in undermining everyone’s ability to manage, get ahead and prosper RESULT – A society where wealth and opportunities are not evenly distributed and even good health is not equally available to everyone. 37 STAT: Poor more predisposed to poor health in general, are at increased risk for chronic illness and die younger. Or Income is a key determinant in our health. It represents opportunities Poverty is ___ % determined by societal and economic forces and much less by individual choices, lifestyles and behaviours. Poverty is man-made and can be eradicated by our efforts. Poverty – Costs us All and will cost us whether we do something about it or not Some Great Stats on the costs of poverty and what happens when we invest even $1,000 extra to people with the lowest incomes, in terms of health outcomes, etc. Cyclical Nature of Poverty – Poor Health Outcomes – Employability/Low Income APPEAL – As Canadians we hold our health in high esteem. It is a fundamental right of all Canadians to have free access to health care. WE know because we have ALL experienced the advantages of this and the resulting Quality of Life that comes with it. WE all have equal access to Health Care, but what about equal opportunity for Good Health in general. Not so much… It was only 60 years ago in Canada that we did not have full access to free health care and at that time, people could not appreciate the enormous ways in which this could improve their quality of life. Much the same, we have difficulty imagining how improving everyone’s chances for good health, particularly the most vulnerable, will impact positively on all of us, but it will. USE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE TO DISCUSS VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SEE BELOW Vulnerable Populations • Too many Americans don’t have the same opportunities to be as healthy as others • Americans who face significant barriers to better health • People whose circumstances have made them vulnerable to poor health • All Americans should have the opportunity to make the choices that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their income, education, or ethnic background • Our opportunities to better health begin where we live, learn, work and play • People’s health is significantly affected by their homes, jobs and schools Health Disparities • Raising the bar for everyone • Setting a fair and adequate baseline of care for all • Lifting everyone up • Giving everyone a chance to live a healthy life • Unfair • Not right • Disappointing (as in Americans should be able to do better, not let people fall through the cracks) 38 • It’s time we made it possible for all Americans to afford to see a doctor, but it’s also time we made it less likely that they need to Poverty • Families who can’t afford the basics in life • Americans who struggle financially • Americans struggling to get by Low-income workers and families • People who work for a living and still can’t pay their rent • Hard-working Americans who have gotten squeezed out of the middle class in tough times • Families whose dreams are being foreclosed Here’s what promoting and creating a healthy community that benefits us all could look like: - - - Legislation that creates more full-time work, worker’s benefits and good wages Housing that is affordable for all Transportation options that are affordable and efficient Employment insurance that protects workers from the unpredicatable nature of the global economy Social Assistance benefits that reflect the true cost of living, provide realistic incentives and supports to return to the workforce and most importantly prevent individuals from becoming caught in a cycle of poverty and resulting ill health. Public policy and programs that support instead of punish people at the most vulnerable points in their lives. An education system that ( levels the playing field for) prepares all of our children for life and work in the st 21 century. So that for all students, regardless of what socio-economic background they come from, so that school is the one place where they can all feel equal and have opportunities to dream and succeed. A well connected community that wants everyone to succeed, is a safer, more inclusive place where crime does not flourish. A place where we know each other, take care of and watch out for each other. A caring and well-functioning community that optimizes the talents, strengths and potential of all its citizens, is a place where businesses want to establish themselves and invest in. This is a place people want to move to – to live, learn, work and play How can we not All get behind creating a community like this? What are the Attitudes and Actions that will Allow us to do this together? - - People seeing themselves as part of the solution – we all have responsibility for ourselves, each other and the community PEOPLE SEEING THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY IN RELATION TO THE ISSUES AND THE SOLUTIONS Instead of powerless, with little influence, one person, they are challenged to begin to see themselves in a more positive way AS powerful, as Voters, As Citizens, As influential, As having a Voice, As a member of a larger collective or community that can do things together, As Strong, As Important, As making A Difference CALL TO ACTION 39 List actions or Portray ways in which people can get involved: perhaps use graphics here or a combination of graphics and people speaking in short statements about how to TAKE ACTION. Get Involved (From: Canada without Poverty) An example of some of the Actions Portray We’d Suggest or http://www.cwp-csp.ca/Blog/eliminating-poverty Six Ideas for Deepening Your Commitment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Be a Champion – be our eyes, ears and a spokeperson in your community: learn more Start a Chapter – and link up with others in your community in common cause: learn more Attend an Event – check the menu at right for upcoming events Host an Event - for raising awareness, stimulating action, building our capacity: please contact us with your idea Endorse Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-free Canada - click here for the endorsement page Invest in Our Work – click here for options for giving PORTRAYING THE VIDEO MESSAGES AND IMAGES - We could use one narrator to speak to everything with different images, photos, graphics and footage being inserted as necessary. We could do shots of individuals speaking to different pieces of the discussion One idea was to have people represent different people in a community so that viewers could relate to one person or another: ie. Teacher, volunteer, parent, business person; in this case it would be better to use actors I think to speak to these realities, and again, it would be short segments. Back TO Powerpoint Presentation for a continuation of Discussion, Actions to Take and more in-depth discussion of the issues, depending on and tailored to the group we’re speaking to. ADVOCACY EXERCISES DO THE MATH CAMPAIGN Background and Results: - Check out www.putfoodinthebudget.ca Do the Math Budget Exercise – by The STOP Community Food Centre 40 DO THE MATH Instructions: Please fill in the following budget worksheet. First, decide if each item is something that you believe is necessary or unnecessary for a single person on social assistance. Second, for the necessary items, fill in what you think each item would cost each month. (Amounts should be based on what you think a single person would need. For items that are not necessarily bought each month, calculate the average monthly cost.) Housing-Related Costs Rent (including utilities) - Choose one of the following: Bachelor Apartment $ One Bedroom Apartment Shared Accomodation $ $ Telephone $ Internet $ Other housing related costs (e.g. replacement and repair of furniture, electronics, etc.): $ Food Remember to include all food groups: Vegetables and Fruit Grain Products Milk and Alternatives Meat and Alternatives $ 26 34 41 Beverages Other Transportation Costs Public Transit $ Vehicle and Vehicle-related Expenses Other transportation costs: $ $ Health Over the Counter Medications (aspirin, cold medicine, allergy medication, antacid, etc.) Vitamins $ $ Medical Administration Expenses (e.g. dispensing fees for medications) $ Dental Care (currently only emergency dental procedures are covered by social assistance) $ Other health costs (e.g. alternative health care, vision upgrades, etc.): $ Clothing and Personal Hygiene Personal Care (Toilet Paper, Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, dental floss, shaving, deodorant, tampons, skin care, hair products, $ 105 zone 1 42 condoms, etc.) Haircuts Makeup Household Cleaners (laundry detergent, dish soap, all purpose cleaner) Laundromat Expenses Clothing (casual & work-related) Shoes Other personal costs: $ 2 $ $ $ $ $ $ Entertainment & Recreation User fees for swimming/fitness class at local community centre Cable television Video rental Gifts for a social event (e.g. birthdays, holidays, etc.) $ $ $ $ 20 5 43 Beverage at a cafe and/or meal in a restaurant Alcohol Other entertainment/recreation costs: $ $ $ Miscellaneous Expenses Books and other reading materials Pet food and other pet expenses Banking Fees, Postage Costs Emergency Expenses Other miscellaneous costs: $ $ $ $ $ 12 44 Do the Math Questions as developed by Poverty Elimination Group in Guelph - As prepared by Jane Robson How did you encourage members of your community to do the “Do the Math” survey (i.e. workplace campaigns, general advertising, etc.)? 1. How many people participated in the “Do the Math” challenge? 2. How were the people who participated in the challenge selected (i.e. no strategy – just chose high profile people, used strategy – one senior, one family, one politician)? 3. How long did you ask people to do the challenge for? 4. Was the challenge successful in raising awareness about poverty in your community? What made it successful/not successful (i.e. good media coverage/lack of media coverage)? 5. Did you hold an event at the end of the challenge? What did you do? Was it well-attended? 6. Did anyone in your community express ethical concerns about the challenge (i.e. having people live on a food hamper for a week was demeaning to those who have to do it all year)? 7. What was the budget for running the challenge? What were the major expenses? Do you have any advice for a community that is planning to do the “Do the Math” challenge that you learned from your community’s experience? 45 Brainstorming Exercise for Advocacy Efforts $100 HFS - CONTACTS/NETWORKS/ORGANIZATIONS ASKS On-line Do the Math Survey www.putfoodinthebudget.ca Comment on YR Do the Math Facebook page Blog comment on www.putfoodinthebudget.ca home page Pick a Media Watchdog for your group Call / WRITE to your MPP Ask for a meeting with MPP Ask Everyone you know to write to their MPP re: HFS 1 2 3 4 5 7 7 9 46 Complete Endorsement Pgs, for Ind., Org. or Board(s) Org. to put PFIB Logo and Link on web page or put logo and link in email signature Do the Math with a group you work with Write a Letter to the Editor about HFS Take the Diet Challenge Find someone to complete a page like this one with their network Twitter about HFS PROMOTIONAL BUTTONS, FLYERS AND BROCHURES Evolution of the Button Making Partnership with Community Living Self Advocates 1.) Advocacy Partnership the Community Living Self-Advocates Group led to other partnerships of value to both of us. 47 a.) Notably the joint purchase of a Button machine that enabled us to create a number of advocacy buttons for the project including: Have you done the Math (PFIB), Working for a Poverty Free Ontario and Food Bank Freedom Fighters. The Button machine was a joint purchase and we can also rent it out to other community groups to help offset the original costs to each of our groups. b.) Together the AAA project – CL Self Advocates and Advocates at the Inn from the Cold in Newmarket produced in the area of 1,500 buttons for the Poverty Free Ontario Campaign province wide. We recouped the cost of the materials, and the Social Planning Network of Ontario was able to disseminate with our help buttons to social planning councils all across Ontario, who purchased the buttons and then recouped their costs by getting donations from people who wanted the buttons. A win-win-win all round. And we still have the button making machine for further endeavours. c.) The relationship with CL has expanded to them providing volunteers for our Good Food Box Program at YRFN which is another great offshoot of this developing relationships around advocacy. Instructions to Make the Buttons **Please visit YRFN website for Button Layout Template www.yrfn.ca **Explanation of a Round Layout - When making a round button the first measurement is the outer graphic edge or “cut line”. In this case for a 2-1/4” button it is 2.625”. 2.625” 2.063” The second measurement is the live graphic area. This is the face area that your graphic or text will fit within. For a 2-1/4” this area is 2.063”, as shown by the dashed line. This area is centered within the outer graphic edge. You want to keep any graphic, text or important part of a picture within this area so that it does not wrap around the edge of the button. The area between the dashed line and solid line is the “bleed area”. This is the area that wraps around the edge of the button onto the back. To obtain a clean, professional looking button you may want to expand your picture into the bleed area as long as the focus of your picture stays within the live graphic area. If you cannot do this with your picture you can fill the outer graphic edge in with a color to match your picture. In this case black was used to “frame” the picture on the right. TAKE TIME TO ENJOY LIFE - When printing do not include the dashed line of the graphic area (as shown to the left) or it will appear on the finished button. This line is meant as a reference only. When you’re finished you can copy and paste your graphic to fit as many on a page as seen on the layout sheet. Sample Button Templates - Please visit www.yrfn.ca for Templates for the following buttons 48 o o o o o Do the Math – Have you sent your Letter Yet? I’m working for a Poverty Free Ontario Food Bank Freedom Fighters Poor No More Flyers and Brochures – A Few Samples: **check out www.yrfn.ca for files that include some sample templates Poor No More Screening Events – May/June 2011 Poverty Free Ontario – June through October 2011 Food Bank Strategy – April 2011 Slices for Social Justice – may 2011 PACKAGE FOR ADVOCACY TEAM MEMBERS Information Package for Teams Health Allies Joint Statement in Support of Put Food in the Budget Campaign Joint Statement Implications of 2010 Ontario Budget for Food Security and Health of People Receiving Social Assistance ** Health Allies speak to Social Assistance and the Cuts to the Special Diet Allowance The recent Ontario budget increases food insecurity, is dangerous for the health of people on social assistance, and reduces the well-being of our communities. The budget: • Reduces the real income of people on social assistance by one per cent because the one percent social assistance increase does not keep up with the almost two per cent increase in consumer prices; 49 • Threatens access to current sources of healthy food for tens of thousands of people by cutting the Special Diet Allowance. These two decisions will: • Perpetuate and deepen the chronic hunger and malnutrition experienced by hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario; • Further jeopardize the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario; • Have a negative impact on the health of tens of thousands of people who have relied on the Special Diet Allowance. We are health and community service providers who work every day with vulnerable Ontarians across the province. We know them as our patients, our clients, and our neighbors. Through these relationships and evidence gathered from our work we know that in living on social assistance they literally have to choose between paying the rent and feeding their loved ones and themselves. Even beyond the related costs to our health system and diminished prosperity this reality for so many is unconscionable to us as regulated health professionals, community service providers, advocates and residents of Ontario. We believe that: • Social assistance rates are dangerously low; they lead to food insecurity and are clearly insufficient for human health and dignity. • Food insecurity harms health and shortens life expectancy. • The harm and poor health outcomes of food insecurity disproportionately impact groups of people already dealing with other forms of discrimination • Investment in healthy food for people on social assistance will result in cost savings to our health care system and ultimately will improve overall prosperity Premier McGuinty’s promise of transforming the social assistance system to one that will allow people to live in health and dignity is sound health policy and consistent with our collective responsibility for human rights. Income is a root determinant of health status. The RNAO, in their report Creating Vibrant Communities says “Where one falls along the income gradient is literally a matter of life and death. There is overwhelming evidence from academic research and our own nursing practice that those who live in poverty and are socially excluded experience a greater burden of disease and die earlier than those who have better access to economic, social, and political resources.” The cancellation of the Special Diet Allowance and a social assistance increase that does not keep up with the cost of living are a setback on any promised path to transform social assistance. In addition the food insecurity created by this budget will negatively impact the intended outcomes of the following strategies of the McGuinty government: • Early Learning Strategy • Poverty Reduction Strategy • Mental Health and Addiction strategy • Ontario Diabetes Strategy If you are hungry and not properly nourished it is harder to learn, to work, to avoid depression, to avoid chronic diseases such as diabetes and to ‘eat right’. Hundreds of thousands of Ontario residents need more healthy food now! 50 The organizations signing this Joint Statement call on the Ontario government to: • Commit to revised social assistance rates based on actual local living costs, including housing and food through a process that includes meeting with stakeholder organizations to collaboratively determine the appropriate level of support to provide social assistance recipients in Ontario. • Implement immediately a healthy food supplement increase of $100 per month for every adult on social assistance (as an interim measure pending the first point) • Maintain access to healthy food through a nutritional supplement program that retains at least the current Special Diet Allowance budget allocation of $250 million. The organizations signing this joint statement also commit to continue to work together with our patients, clients, neighbors and fellow Ontario residents in support of their equal rights to an income that provides a life of health and dignity. Association of Local Public Health Agencies Association of Ontario Health Centers Canadian Diabetes Association Health Providers Against Poverty Medical Reform Group Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance Ontario Collaborative Group on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Ontario Midwives Association Ontario Public Health Association Ontario Physician Working Group on Poverty Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health Put Food in the Budget Campaign Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario Social Planning Network of Ontario The Stop Community Food Centre June, 2010 Background Relationship between Poverty, Access to Healthy Food, and Health Outcomes The Joint Statement refers to documented impacts of poverty, access to healthy food and health outcomes reported by organizations signing this Joint Statement. Here are some references. Social Assistance rates are insufficient and lead to food insecurity: When people do not have enough money, a healthy diet becomes one of the first things they are forced to cut from their budget. • Food insecurity is driven by poverty. According to the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (2004), 8.45% of Ontario households meet the definition of “food insecure." Food insecurity is greatest among households: - with low income (almost half in the lowest category of income adequacy) dependent on social assistance (60% of those on social assistance) which do not own their dwelling (20% of those) (Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2008) 51 http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.4975117/k.BAD7/Food_Security_Essential_to_ the_Heart_Health_of_Ontarians.htm • The main cause of food insecurity is poverty. More than 40% of low-income people experience food insecurity. At particular risk are people living on social assistance who have been shown to be at the greatest risk of food insecurity. Social assistance rates in Ontario are grossly inadequate to maintain food security.(Tarasuk V, Vogt J. Household food insecurity in Ontario. Can J Public Health. 2009 May-Jun;100(3):184-8.; Che JC, J. Food insecurity in Canadian households. Health Reports. 2001;12(4):11-21. Ricciuto LE, Tarasuk VS. An examination of income-related disparities in the nutritional quality of food selections among Canadian households from 1986-2001. Social Science and Medicine. 2007;64:186-98.) • The 2009 Nutritious Food Basket survey results indicate that in no part of Ontario can a single Ontario Works recipient afford the average rent and the cost of healthy eating at the same time. The average cost for an individual to purchase a Nutritious Food Basket* is $223.51 per month (for a 19 – 30 year old male) (Nutritious Food Basket costing, Ministry of Health Promotion, February 22, 2010). That amount uses up all of the Ontario Works amount once the housing portion (of $356 which must be used for rent or is taken back), leaving nothing for toiletries, transportation, clothing, laundry or telephone, for example. alPHa Nutritious Food Basket Survey February 2009 Update accessible at http://www.alphaweb.org/files/NFB%20Summary%20Report_2009apr.pdf Food insecurity harms health and shortens life expectancy: When poverty limits the quality and quantity of food someone can eat, the likelihood of getting sick or having a chronic disease increases. • Overwhelming evidence from academic research and RNs’ own nursing practice show that differences in social and economic status are directly linked to inequitable health outcomes. (Creating Vibrant Communities, RNAO’s Challenge to Ontario’s Political Parties, 2010 – Technical Backgrounder). http://www.rnao.org/Storage/65/5964_Backgrounder.pdf • There are higher rates of chronic disease and poor health in social assistance recipients in Ontario when compared to the non-poor. In some cases, these rates were 7.2 times higher. (Sick and Tired: The Compromised Health of Social Assistance Recipients and the Working Poor in Ontario) (http://wellesleyinstitute.com/files/sickandtiredfinal.pdf • Individuals living in food-insufficient households in Canada are more likely to report heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and food allergies (Vozoris and Tarasuk, 2003) • Low-nutrient, highly processed foods can be less expensive than healthier options such as fresh fruits and vegetables. People with low incomes therefore choose them frequently, and this reinforces less healthy eating patterns. Obesity is also more prevalent in low income women. (Dietitians of Canada, Community Food Security Position Paper, 2007) http://www.dietitians.ca/news/highlights_positions.asp • The poorest one-fifth of Canadians, when compared to the richest twenty percent, have: more than double the rate of diabetes and heart diseasea sixty percent greater rate of two or more chronic health conditions more than three times the rate of bronchitis nearly double the rate of arthritis (Poverty Is Making Us Sick, A Comprehensive Survey of Income and Health in Canada. Lightman, Mitchell & Wilson, 2008). http://socialplanningtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/poverty-ismaking-us-sick.pdf • The poorest fifth of Canada’s population face a staggering 358% higher rate of disability compared to the richest fifth. The poor experience major health inequality in many other areas, including 128% 52 more mental and behavioural disorders; 95% more ulcers; 63% more chronic conditions; and 33% more circulatory conditions (Lightman, Mitchell & Wilson, 2008 see above). Food Insecurity and harm/poor health outcomes disproportionately impact groups of people already dealing with other forms of discrimination: • People with low incomes including single parents (most frequently mothers), individuals aged 45-64 years and living alone, recent immigrants, persons with a work-limiting disability, Aboriginal people, individuals who drop out of high school, women, and racialized group members (RNAO, 2010 see above). • Women are especially vulnerable, as they make up a disproportionate share of both the low income population and lone parent families. (Statistics Canada as cited in Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2008 see above). • Isolated communities are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, primarily because of decreased availability of and accessibility to food. Of particular concern is the degree of food insecurity in isolated Aboriginal communities, which ranged from 40% to 83% in a baseline nutrition survey. (Dietitians of Canada, Community Food Security Position Paper, 2007) • Children are particularly affected by food insecurity. For example, 700,000 Canadian children (12.5% of the total number of children in Canada) were living in food insecure households in 2006, and children accounted for 41% of the more than 750,000 people in Canada who were assisted by food banks in that year (Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2008). (Tremblay, Shields, Laviolette, Craig, Janssen & Gorber as cited in Toronto Public Health, 2010) http://www.toronto.ca/health/food_connections_report.pdf Investment in healthy food for people will result in cost savings to our health care system: • An annual increase of $1,000 in income for the poorest 20 per cent of Canadians would lead to almost 10,000 fewer chronic conditions and 6,600 fewer disability days every two weeks. (Lightman, Mitchell & Wilson, 2008 see above). • The relationship between poverty and poor health is clear. Poor nutrition can lead to an increased risk for chronic and infectious diseases, pregnancy outcomes with greater risk for low birth weight and a negative impact on the growth and development of children. It costs more to treat and manage these conditions than to prevent them by ensuring people can afford an adequate diet. Consistent investment in maintaining public health is a prerequisite for maintaining a population that is prepared for productivity. Letter to Premier McGuinty, Ontario Public Health Association, March 22, 2010, http://www.opha.on.ca/our_voice/letters/SpecialDietAllowance-22Mar10.pdf York Region Fact Sheet WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO - DO THE MATH IN YORK REGION?? As hard as it is to believe, many people in York Region are suffering chronic food insecurity.(*) For some, choosing between eating and paying bills is an ongoing daily struggle. 53 There is a growing gap between those who have and those who don’t have the means to live in York th Region. Although the median income York Region in 2006 was reported at $89,099 the 5 highest in 1 Canada, the proportion of people living below the Poverty Line increased from 10-13% from 2001 – 2006 In 2006, 15% of York Region children under 18 (32,477) lived in low income households – an increase of 2 62% over 2001 Food bank use increased 29% in January to April 2009, over the same period in 2008 (York Region Food Network – Foodbank Statistics 2008-2009) Monthly Caseload for OW recipients in York Region rose to over 5,000 in Jan-April 2009, an 11% increase over Dec. /08. (Report #5 Community Services and Housing Committee- York Region Council Meeting June 25, 2009) Monthly Caseload for ODSP recipients in York Region in June /08 was 7,667. This represents a cumulative increase of 52.4% from June /02, outpacing all other GTA municipalities and the provincial average for this same period. (Peel Region ODSP- 2009 Budget Document) THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING AND THE LIMITED SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO POVERTY IN YORK REGION. Households are considered to have affordability problems if more than 30% of household income is spent on housing costs. (Health Status Indicators Report – Public Health, York Region Community and Health Services Dept. 2007) In York Region, 48% of renters (15,482) and 27% of homeowners spend 30% or more 3 of their total income on housing costs – the highest in the GTA If you spend more than 50% of your gross income on housing (rent, electricity, heat and municipal services), then you are at a higher risk of homelessness. You are also at significant risk of experiencing chronic illness, depression, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Over 22% of tenants in York, 4 spend more than half of their income on rent. People who access food banks spend on average, 60% of their total income on housing (Hunger in the Midst of Prosperity Report, YRFN 2008) In a review of 22 rental markets in Ontario, the highest rent increases over the last 10 years took place in 5 York Region. Rents increased by a rate of 60% the rate of inflation THE RESULTS: - INSUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER BASIC SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISKS AND THE COSTS THAT ACCOMPANY THEM. NECESSITIES. It’s definitely time to - DO THE MATH IN YORK REGION “Do the Math” is a survey tool developed with input by The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto and is being done across the province by the Social Planning Network of Ontario. By doing the math you can see that eating healthily or at all, can be an extreme challenge for someone on social assistance. To address this disparity we are encouraging support for a $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement for 1 Statistics Canada 2006 Census Statistics Canada 2006 Census 3 2006 Census: Where’s Home?2008 Ontario Non Profit Housing Association( ONPHA) and Cooperative Housing Federation (CHF) 2 54 individuals on social assistance. So Do the Math with us, and see for yourself. www.putfoodinthebudget.ca 1 Ibid (*) Food Security: Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. (Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security: A Response to the World Food Summit) Alliance to End Homelessness Fact Sheet What is York Region? Health and Homelessness in York Region 1,2 FACT SHEET York Region is made up of 9 municipalities: Whitchurch-Stouffville prosperity Homelessness comes in different forms: Absolute homeless: These individuals cannot afford adequate housing so they camp outside or sleep in cars, abandoned buildings, etc. For various reasons, they do not choose to or cannot get to an emergency shelter. Hidden homeless: These individuals cannot afford their own place and may share accommodation, not necessarily with someone they choose. These individuals may be couch-surfing or trading sex for shelter, and shuffling from place to place. They may live in overcrowded conditions, such as multiple families in a single-family home. At risk of homelessness: These individuals are paying a disproportionate amount of their income on housing. If housing costs over 30% of their income, they are likely to have financial difficulties, and if housing costs over 50%, they are at significant risk. These individuals are only one pay cheque, one illness, or one family breakdown away from losing their home. 55 How does homelessness impact health? Research has shown that people who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless have significantly poorer physical and mental health outcomes compared to the general population. Their poor health often results from compromised living conditions and other social determinants of health. What has been investigated? To further understand the relationship between health and homelessness in York Region, the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness (YRAEH) conducted a comprehensive health needs assessment. YRAEH used a paper questionnaire to collect input from frontline staff of local agencies based on their understanding of their main client populations’ health needs. All findings represent the proportion of frontline workers from 15 organizations who responded to survey questions, rather than the proportion of clients themselves. Who was represented in this survey? About 70% of the frontline workers that participated said that they supported at-risk clients, while 54% of the participants said they supported homeless clients. Where do people live? Frontline workers commented on clients’ living conditions: had stayed somewhere outside Why do people become homeless? -up (34%) Why can’t people find or maintain housing? 27%) Housing is often inadequate and unhealthy. Half of the frontline workers, especially staff working with youth, said they had supported clients living in a place with a mould problem. On average, frontline staff estimated that their clients could be on a subsidized housing waiting list for about 3 years. In some cases, the estimated waiting time ranged up to 10 years. What about income and identification? About a third of frontline workers said clients without a health card had been refused healthcare at: -in clinics (31%) Most common reasons for not having a health card: Frontline workers said that the most common sources of income were: 56 Other services refused for lack of identification: How does homelessness affect access to healthy food? Clients were hungry due to a lack of food: Common sources of food: al programs or soup kitchens (51%) Almost two-thirds of frontline workers said their clients needed to follow a special diet, most commonly due to: Most common reasons given for clients not receiving a special diet supplement despite need: Does homelessness affect sleep quality? Frontline workers said clients often complained of difficulty sleeping due to: What about social interaction? Frontline workers said clients were impacted by social isolation, especially those working with newcomers (79%). Over 1 in 5 frontline workers said that none of their clients participate in recreational/social programs due to: What about safety? Frontline workers, especially those working with youth, said that physical injury and violence were prevalent. 57 Table 3: Percentage of frontline workers that supported clients who experienced injury or assault Injury/Assault Hit by a car, bicycle, truck, or bus Physical assault Sexual harassment Sexual assault or rape Total Percentage Youth Percentage 17 21 58 39 68 47 25 37 Can homeless and at-risk people access healthcare? About a quarter (23%) of frontline workers thought their clients did not have a usual source of healthcare. Frontline workers said they had referred clients to an emergency room for: Frontline workers said clients left emergency rooms before being seen because: Over a third of frontline workers (35%) said their clients had nowhere to go or that they stayed on the streets after being discharged from hospital. About a quarter (23%) of frontline workers thought their clients did not have a usual source of healthcare. Is healthcare really affordable for all? Almost two-thirds of frontline workers (64%) said their clients needed prescription medication but could not obtain it, mainly due to: o Only 44% of frontline workers said their clients had a drug benefit card Frontline workers said their clients were challenged by: ) Almost a third of frontline workers (31%) said their clients needed medical supplies or equipment but could not get it. This was often because they could not afford it (76%) 58 What did frontline workers ask for? Services most urgently identified by frontline workers: Type of health resource recommended by frontline staff: ion location health resource (62%) o Georgina (33%, including 19% in Keswick) o Richmond Hill (27%) o Newmarket (24%) Recommendations Social determinants of health ailability Region Awareness and education -related resources -risk people Health resources and supplies a strategy to increase access to medical supplies Healthcare tnerships with Central Local Health Integration Network on common priorities -emergency healthcare access discharge planning recommend alternative support York Region Alliance to End Homelessness 510 Penrose Street, Newmarket, ON L3Y 1A2 905-836-6782 www.yraeh.ca [email protected] 59 Questions and answers on Put Food in the Budget Campaign Q. Is it realistic to expect the government to act in the upcoming budget? th A. The budget will be presented on March 26 . There is lots of time for the Premier and the Finance Minister to get the message that now is precisely the time to make a down payment on reducing poverty. The Premier has made a promise to reduce poverty – the 2009 budget is the first real test of whether he intends to keep this promise. Q. Why now? Isn’t this a bad time to spend more on social assistance? A. It is long past the time to address the poverty experienced by people who live on social assistance. Benefit rates are worth 60% what they were 15 years ago. As more people lose their jobs, the costs of poverty will become greater. Investing in a healthy food supplement will be paid back to the provincial treasury as spending in local economies is stimulated across Ontario. Q. How did you choose the amount of $100 for the Healthy Food Supplement? A. This amount is a down payment toward establishing adequate income supports that are based on the real cost of living and that enable people to purchase healthy food. $100 represents a round number to help focus attention on the issue and express the need in real terms . Q. How do you guarantee the money will be spent on food? A. You trust people to know their own needs and to take care of themselves as best they can in difficult circumstances. People in all income levels make poor choices when it comes to healthy eating. The cost of eating fresh fruit and vegetables makes it a luxury for people on social assistance. They should be entitled to the dignity of a healthy diet. Q. Will there be public support for this initiative? A. Canadians believe in a just society where human rights are respected and everyone has equitable access to opportunity. In Ontario, the Premier aspires to a society where “everyone is at their best.” The public will support a government that keeps its promises and delivers on fairness and justice. Q. Why are Medical Officers of Health advocating on this? A. The government requires all public health units to collect annual information on the cost of nutritious food in their local areas. The gap between what it costs to eat a healthy diet and the income received by people who live on social assistance is unacceptably wide and is getting wider. Medical Officers of Health are providing advice to the government on closing the gap on health inequalities. Q. What are some of the health impacts? A. People who experience chronic food insecurity and a lack of access to a healthy diet suffer from numerous negative effects on their health, including higher risk of chronic illness, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Fighting poverty is the best medicine money can buy. 60 Put Food in the Budget – 1 page Description Promote health and fight poverty Nutritious food is essential for good health. As part of our belief that fighting poverty is the best medicine money can buy, the 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction, in partnership with the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, is launching an Ontario-wide campaign for a Healthy Food Supplement. We are calling for the immediate introduction of a $100 monthly supplement to the basic needs allowance for all adults receiving social assistance. The existence of widespread food insecurity and chronic illness related to poor nutrition is the result of our society’s collective negligence and a failure of public policy. For the last ten years the Ontario Government has mandated the province’s 36 local health units to collect and report the annual cost of a Nutritious Food Basket in their areas. These reports consistently show a vast gap between the level of benefits received by people on social assistance and their ability to meet their basic food requirements along with other necessities of life. There is no current formula for establishing social assistance benefit levels and the basic needs allowance is set far below actual market costs. We are pleased the government has created its Social Assistance Review to evaluate the true cost of living in communities across Ontario and we look forward to a new benchmark for income adequacy in setting benefit rates. This is a hopeful development. And hope matters. In the meantime, it is critical to the health and wellbeing of social assistance recipients that the government takes a first step toward income adequacy by introducing a $100 per month Healthy Food Supplement. The Supplement will serve as a down payment in closing the monthly gap of food deficiency while reducing the negative health effects of poverty. It will also stimulate spending in our local economies. As a recent Globe and Mail editorial says, the idea of putting money in the hands of low-income people who will spend it in their communities “is an idea with remarkably wide consensus… In these times, putting money in the hands of those who need it is good policy.” Put food in the budget. Promote health and fight poverty. Tips for Teams Meeting with your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) is a powerful, personal way to get your point across. These tips for MPP meetings were adapted from a lobbying toolkit created by the ODSP Action Coalition. 1) If you don’t know who your local MPP is, here’s how to find out: Go to the Elections Ontario lookup page and use your postal code or address to look up the name of your Electoral District. Then, go to the Elections Ontario addresses list and look up that Electoral District to get the name of the MPP. The addresses list will also give you the contact information for their Constituency Office – which is where you want to call. 61 2) Arrange for the meeting. - Call your MPP’s Constituency Office to arrange an appointment to meet. MPPs are usually available on Fridays in their offices. If the Legislature isn’t sitting, they are available most workdays. - Sometimes several phone calls are necessary to get a date. Don’t be shy about being persistent! - Once the meeting is set, let the office know who will attend. 3) Decide who will attend the meeting. - It is a good idea to bring other people along – although it’s best not to invite more than two or three people. - It’s also best for all the people who attend the meeting to live in the MPP’s Electoral District. - If you receive OW, you might invite supportive people who work for a local agency, own a local business, or are local community, religious, or cultural leaders. - And if you are an activist, an agency worker, a community member, or a friend or supporter of a person living on OW make sure to invite at least one person with lived experience of the social assistance system to the meeting. And make sure that person has time to speak. 4) Preparing for the meeting. - Find out how long you’ll have to meet with the MPP. 15 to 30 minutes is standard. - Make sure you know the most current information about OW. - Telling your MPP about your lived experience of OW can be hard, so you may want to make a few notes beforehand so that you remember what to say. And encourage the other people who are attending the meeting with you to do the same. - Make sure to arrive a few minutes early for the meeting to give yourself time to get settled. 5) During the meeting. - Be assertive rather than aggressive. Being assertive will win you more respect. Try not to get into arguments. Focus on solutions rather than complaints. - Tell them what a good social assistance system with meaningful supports and opportunities would look like. - And tell them that they should honour the all-party commitment to poverty reduction. 6) What to ask the MPP to do specifically. - If your MPP is a government Cabinet Minister, ask them to support…………..explain exactly what you want them to support from backgrounder sheets that the York Region Food Network provided. 62 - If your MPP is a Conservative MPP, ask them to bring up the need for a bold and broad Review in one of their caucus meetings. - If your MPP is a member of an opposition party, ask them to bring up this issue in Question Period in the Legislature. - Ask your MPP to write a letter to …………..supporting your call for a bold and broad review, and asking him/her to respond. Ask them to CC the letter to the Premier and the…………………see backgrounder sheet from York Region Food Network. 7) Follow-up. - Send your MPP a follow-up letter thanking them for meeting with you, summarizing the content of the meeting, and confirming what the MPP agreed to do. - At a later date, call the MPP’s office to see if the MPP followed through on any promises they made. Steps for Teams and Team Leaders Please find the following attachments for your Information Package as you approach and set up meetings with your MPP. The DO THE MATH SURVEY TOOL The PUT THE FOOD IN THE BUDGET PG.1 PFIB QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS YORK REGION FACT SHEET We’ve also included a Sample Copy of a letter you can direct to your MPP and include in the Information Package. It is only a draft and you can use it any way you like. You need to address it to your specific MPP and also identify who it is coming from. STEPS Call your local MPP and ask for a meeting to discuss poverty in your community and specifically to Do the Math activity together. You can send the survey link in advance or bring a paper copy to the meeting or ask your MPP to complete it ‘online’ during your meeting. http://dothemath.thestop.org/index.php It is best to provide them with a paper copy as well as a link to the online version, and ask them to do it before the meeting. If they complete it prior to the meeting then it will allow more time for discussion and a better use of time. The Package can be provided ahead of time along with the Survey Tool or you can take it with you on the day of the meeting – whichever strategy works best for you. Re-convene your Do the Math team and discuss the Survey with your MPP. 63 Ask your MPP if you can share his/her thoughts and findings after having completed the survey, with www.povertywatchontario.ca Remember this is not a hard sell opportunity and is not intended to embarrass them, but the goal is awareness, education and the opportunity to begin a dialogue and discussion around these issues and throughout this process, hopefully gain their support for the $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement for OW and ODSCP recipients Contact the campaign and share your results with organizers across the province by sending an email to [email protected] . We will summarize and report out results on the Put Food in the Budget page on the Poverty Watch Ontario web site (www.povertywatchontario.ca/put-food-inthe-budget/ ) Let us know the following: Did your MPP Do the Math? (If not, what reason did s/he give to skip the We want to report on this information also.) survey? Did your MPP say that current rates were adequate or did s/he admit that they do not add up to a life of health and dignity? How much did your MPP calculate the minimum (dollar amount) of income a person in the riding needs each month to live a healthy life and participate with dignity in the community? Final Recommendation re: Ascertaining the numbers of Individuals who are affected by the issues at hand, Volunteers and Organizations who are already working in a given municipality or riding that would be in support of the Healthy Food Supplement. th As Ron Berresford pointed out at our meeting on July 14 , we can often have more leverage with the MPPs when we remind them how many people are either affected by the issue that we are talking about, or how many people are already actively working in the constituency (volunteers and organizations) trying to address the issues and support the people that are most vulnerable in this instance. The number of volunteers or in-kind hours being committed also speaks volumes to the community commitment that already exists, and that would be bolstered by sound political decisions like supporting the $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement. In combination, these efforts can go a long way to making a real difference in the lives of people. It helps to make the point that the decision to support the supplement is a logical and pragmatic way of addressing issues of hunger and poverty and in conjunction with what is already happening in the community, it can have an even greater impact than a stand alone initiative. Ron suggested that it would be helpful to ascertain, by each municipality, how many organizations are already working in that riding (in this case) to address issues of poverty, homelessness, hunger etc. An estimate of the number of volunteers or volunteer hours being committed would also make a strong case for the community and constituency support that exists in a given riding, for the $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement. In this case we are actually presenting the MPP with a picture of the volume of people in his/her riding, that would be in favor of such a supplement and a picture of the people in his/her riding, who are very much interested in seeing their MPP support such a decision. That is the type of leverage we need. And in that way, the small group going in to see the 64 MPP and discuss Do the Math, is actually representing a much broader group of constituents (voters) who are in favour of the Healthy Food Supplement. We don’t have the data on organizations and number of volunteers by riding at our fingertips, but if the individual teams have some way of gleaning this information or at least coming up with some approximations, for their riding, it would at the very least give a picture of what communities are doing already to address these issues, as well as the number of people who are affected and of course those who are interested in seeing their MPP vote in favour of the supplement. Key Messages and Information for writing Letters In real dollars, people on social assistance have lost almost 40% of their purchasing power since because of the cuts to rates in 1995. Poverty is Making Us Sick: Lightman and Mitchell An annual increase of $1,000 in income to the poorest 20% of Canadians would lead to almost $10,000 fewer chronic conditions and 6,600 fewer disability days every two weeks. This is a nutshell, could be achieved through the HFS at least for people on Social Assistance. Cost of the HFS - $700 million this year due to higher numbers of adults on Social Assistance. It has been estimated that $100 HFS for all adults on social assistance could be paid for if taxpayers paid only $100 more this year to allow for everyone on SA to receive this moderate increase. “Charity, not social justice, has become the primary social policy to address food insecurity in Canada.” While food banks were introduced in the 1980’s as short-term emergency measures, they have taken hold permanently, in the absence of federal or provincial commitment to income or food security. Other investments the province is making in key initiatives such as early learning, mental health and addictions as well as a diabetes strategy, are clearly compromised and will not be realized when costs of living, poverty and inadequate social assistance rates continue to put individuals and families further back. Their investment strategy is not very well thought through. QUOTES - Add quotes from MPPs from when they did the Do the Math survey Use their own words or the words of their colleagues Over 40 MPPs met with teams across Ontario to discuss the Healthy Food Supplement; approximately half completed the Math Survey (4 from York Region); the average arrived at monthly cost of basic living for the MPPs was $1,314. ** See DOING THE MATH WITH ONTARIO MPPS – It Doesn’t Add up! In Resource Section of this Book 65 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WITH GOOD INFORMATION YR Alliance to End Homelessness Fact Sheet (included above) York Region Fact Sheet – Why it is important to Do the Math in YR “ Hunger in the Midst of Prosperity – Current YRFN Hunger Report -can be accessed online at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Information Necessary to get your Letters Directed to Target Individuals **Addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, etc. ** See MPPs names and contact information for York Region below *** Also the Key Targets – Always cc these individuals when addressing your MPP Prior to October 7, 2011 Premier Dalton McGuinty Room 281, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1 Tel 416-325-1941 Fax 416-325-3745 [email protected] Honorable Madeline Meilleur Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Ministry of Community and Social Services 6th Floor, Hepburn Block 80 Grosvenor Street 66 Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9 Tel 416-325-5225 Fax 416-325-5191 [email protected] Honorable Laurel Broten Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, Minister of Children and Youth Services Ministry of Children and Youth Services th 14 Floor 56 Wellesley Street West Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S3 Tel 416-212-7432 Fax 416-212-7431 [email protected] Honorable Deb Matthews Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care th 10 Floor, Hepburn Block 80 Grosvenor Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4 Tel 416-327-4300 Fax 416-327-3679 [email protected] Honorable Dwight Duncan (Continued in this position after October 2011 Election) Minister of Finance, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet Ministry of Finance 7th Floor, Frost Building South 67 7 Queen's Park Crescent Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Y7 Tel 416-325-0400 Fax 416-325-0374 [email protected] New Ministers for 2011 Minister Eric Hoskin - Minister of Children and Youth Services; Responsible for Poverty Reduction Portfolio [email protected] Ministry of Children and Youth Services 14th Floor 56 Wellesley Street West Toronto, Ontario Minister John Malloy Minister of Community and Social Services [email protected] Ministry of Community and Social Services 6th Floor, Hepburn Block Ministry 80 Grosvenor Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9 Tel 416-325-5225 Fax 416-325-5191 Toll Free 1-888-789-4199 Minister Deb Matthews Minister of Health and Long-Term Care [email protected] Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 10th Floor, Hepburn Block 80 Grosvenor Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4 68 Tel 416-327-4300 Minister Laurel Broten Minister of Education [email protected] Ministry of Education 22nd Floor, Mowat Block Ministry 900 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M7A 1L2 Tel 416-325-2600 Fax 416-325-2608 Members of Provincial Parliament for York Region 2011 - 2015 Julia Munro (York-Simcoe) 18977 Leslie Street, PO Box 1129 Sharon ON L0G 1V0 phone 905-478-2572 or 1-866-206-1373 fax 905-478-8470 email [email protected] Frank Klees (Newmarket-Aurora) 14845 Yonge Street, Suite 201 Aurora ON L4G 6H8 phone 905-750-0019 or 1-800-211-1881 fax 905-707-3161 email [email protected],org Reza Moridi (Richmond Hill) 9891 Yonge Street Richmond Hill, ON L4C 1V1 69 phone 905-884-8080 fax 905-884-1040 email [email protected] Peter Shurman (Thornhill) 7368 Yonge Street, Unit 203 Thornhill, ON L4J 8H9 phone 905-731-8462 fax 905-731-2984 email [email protected] Greg Sorbara (Vaughan) 140 Woodbridge Avenue, Unit AU8 Woodbridge, ON L4L 4K9 phone 905-851-0440 fax 905-851-0210 email [email protected] Helena Jaczek (Oak Ridges-Markham) 135 Main St. North, Suite 201 Markham, ON L3P 1Y2 phone 905-294-4931 fax 905-294-0014 email [email protected] Hon. Michael Chan (Markham-Unionville) 450 Alden Road Unit 5 Markham ON L3R 5H4 phone 905-305-1935 fax 905-305-1938 email [email protected] 70 Template Letter to MPPs __________________________________ __________________________________ Dear ________ (personalized for the 7 York Region MPPs) Current social assistance rates threaten people’s health and dignity. Even the basics of food and shelter are out of reach for citizens on Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. For example, in the York Region Food Network document “Hunger in the Midst of Prosperity 2010”, housing costs are added to the cost of a Nutritious Food Basket and compared to social assistance rates. This comparison demonstrates that little to nothing remains to cover other basic costs of living. People in our province should not have to choose between paying the rent or eating nutritious food. I ask you to immediately introduce a $100 per month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step towards meeting basic needs. I understand that the provincial government will be reviewing the social assistance system over the next eighteen months. Low income Ontarians cannot wait for that review. As well, the federal and provincial governments cannot continue to afford poverty’s estimated price tag of $10.4 to 13.1 billion per year, as reported by the Ontario Association of Food Banks. The $100 per month is just the first step. There needs to be a clear process for setting social assistance rates – rates that are based on, and keep pace with, the real costs of living a healthy and dignified life in Ontario. I look forward to hearing in the media that you have publicly supported the $100 per month Healthy Food Supplement. Sincerely 71 MPP Team Visits – samples Information about the Amounts MPPs reached in the DTM Budget Survey across all three major political parties MPPs’ Calculated Monthly Costs of Basic Necessities Average MPP Calculated Monthly Costs by Party (Difference between OW and ODSP Monthly Benefit and MPPs’ calculated Costs) (Average Shortfall of OW and ODSP Benefits by Party) MPPs by Political Party Liberal MPPs $1,289 (OW --$704) (ODSP --$247) Sophia Aggelonitis $1090 Hamilton Mountain (OW -- $505) (ODSP --$48) Leona Dombrowsky Prince Edward-Hastings $1157 (OW --$572) (ODSP --$115) Brad Duguid Scarborough Centre $1716 (OW --$1131) (ODSP --$674) John Gerretson Kingston & The Islands $1350 (OW --$765) (ODSP --$308) 72 Helena Jaczek Oak Ridges-Markham $1,324 (OW --$739) (ODSP --$282) Linda Jeffrey Brampton-Springdale $1345 (OW --$760) (ODSP --$303) Kuldip Kular Bramalea-Gore-MaltonSpringdale) Tony Ruprecht Davenport $1144 (OW --$559) (ODSP --$102) $1260 (OW --$675) (ODSP --$218) Monique Smith Nippissing $1221 (OW --$636) (ODSP --$179) $1,264 PC MPPs (OW --$679) (ODSP --$222) Robert Bailey Sarnia-Lambton $987 (OW --$402) (ODSP +$55) Frank Klees Newmarket Aurora $1350 (OW --$765) (ODSP --$308) Norman Miller Parry Sound-Muskoka $1740 (OW --$1155) 73 (ODSP --$698) Julia Munro $1042 York-Simcoe (OW --$457) (ODSP -- $0) Jerry Ouellette Oshawa $1,012 (OW --$427) (ODSP +30) Peter Shurman Thornhill $1,450 (OW -- $865) (ODSP -- $408) NDP MPPs $1,386 (OW --$801) (ODSP --$344) Cheri DiNovo High Park-Parkdale $1820 (OW --$1235) (ODSP --$778) Andrea Horwath $1396 Hamilton Centre (OW --$811) (ODSP --$354) Paul Miller Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Michael Prue Beaches-East York $1418 (OW -- $833) (ODSP --$376) $1425 (OW --$840) (ODSP --$383) Peter Tabuns $875 74 Toronto-Danforth (OW --$290) (ODSP +$167) ALL MPPs who have Done the Math to Date $1306 (OW --$721) (ODSP --$264) January 2011 Sample from MPP Visits in York Region – Letters, Invitations and Reports on Visits MPP Greg Sorbarra 140 Woodbridge Avenue, Unit AU8 - Market Lane Woodbridge , ON L4L 4K9 Dear Mr. Sobara: Thank you for agreeing to complete the ‘DO THE MATH’ Survey Tool that we have provided. You can also find the survey on-line at www.dothemath.thestop.org/survey.php This is a powerful tool that provides insight into the challenges and difficult choices that are faced by OW and ODSP recipients each and every day. We ask you to determine what a monthly budget would look like, for a single person living on OW or OSDP Benefits. When we compare this to what people are actually living on, the contrast is quite stark. There are a significant number of people living on low-income in York Region as noted in our accompanying fact sheet. These individuals are at an increased risk for homelessness and face numerous health risks associated with poverty. For these reasons we are determined to look at solutions that can reduce the risk factors for individuals who do not have access to an adequate supply of nutritious food, due to their insufficient incomes. As community constituents, volunteers, recipients of social assistance and organizations who work with the most vulnerable populations in York Region on a daily basis, we are advocating for a $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement to be included in the Budget for OW and ODSP recipients. After going through the DO THE MATH exercise, we ask that you will consider supporting the $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement, which is currently endorsed by the Association of Local Public Health Agencies and Medical Officers of Health. We look forward to meeting with you in person to discuss your findings and thoughts on the Survey. 75 Thank you for your time. Sincerely, C. Francis (Frank) Folz, Vaughan Resident 905-851-3168 For Team Members: Nick Saul, The Stop Community Food Centre, Peter Clutterbuck, Social Planning Network of Ontario, Tom Pearson, PAAC, Yvonne Kelly, York Region Food Network Report from Visit with Greg Sorbarra October 14 (Queen’s Park) – Greg Sorbara, Liberal MPP for Vaughan and former Ontario Minister of Finance, met with Frank Folz and Tom Pearson of the York Region Food Security Network Do the Math Team and Peter Clutterbuck of the SPNO in his Queen’s Park office. Mr. Sorbara’s Legislative Assistant, Lorenzo Catuzza was also in attendance. Mr Sorbara had not had a chance to complete the survey but said he would do so and send it to us. Mr. Sorbara was interested in the report of the on-line survey results so far, showing that the average monthly cost for necessities was $1400, while the single OW monthly rate is $572 and the ODSP rate just over $1000. He asked what people are doing to get by. Tom Pearson, a leader with the Poverty Action for Change Coalition in York Region, gave some examples of the struggles of individuals and families and reported that 50,000 people in York Region rely on food banks to survive. Mr. Sorbara said that there was a “market attractiveness” to the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement as a first step towards adequacy, but acknowledged that the real issue is the overall level of resources that individuals and families require to meet all their basic living necessities, not just healthy food. He would not expect Government to monitor whether people actually use any increased income on food if it were delivered as a Healthy Food Supplement, just like it does not check whether families actually spend the Ontario Child Benefit on their children. Families must make their own choices about how to use scarce resources to meet their full range of needs. Mr. Sorbara pointed out that advocacy for the Healthy Food Supplement will have to be very eloquent and compelling because current economic conditions and the Province’s financial situation are in very dire straits. There will be many competing interests in the next Provincial budget. He felt, however, that Ontarians tend to think more about vulnerable people when times are tough than when they are good. This could be a good time to raise public awareness. Certainly, spending time with MPPs to Do the Math and talk about the disparities is a good strategy. When he was Finance Minister, he did listen to the concerns and ideas brought forward by his fellow MPPs in preparing his budgets. Mr. Sorbara concluded the visit with the comment, “It is important to communicate to the majority of the working public that the quality of society and their own lives will improve if we improve the conditions of the most vulnerable among us.” MPP Helena Jaczek – Oakridges/Markham MPP SUMMARY from meeting with Dr. Jaczek on Monday November 9, 2009 th On Monday November 9 the York Region Do the Math Team consisting of Tom Pearson (Poverty Action Coalition for Change), Sam Orrico (long-time resident of Markham and current ODSP Recipient), Yvonne Kelly (York Region 76 Food Network) and Harris Stephenson (Katimavik Student with YRFN) met with MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek and her constituency assistant Vera Nikolovski, at her constituency office in Markham. Dr. Jaczek had not completed the survey prior to the meeting but willingly agreed to do it with us in the time that we had with her. Time constraints allowed us to complete the survey up to the final sections of Entertainment/Recreation and Miscellaneous/Emergency Expenses. While a couple of items in these sections were factored in to the total budget, most were not budgeted for. Dr. Jaczek commented that “individuals would do without, out of necessity.” They would likely not be able to afford any of these items due to the fact that other basic items had already taken the monthly total to well over the amount allotted on SA or ODSP. The total Dr. Jaczek had arrived at was $1,324.00, which was right in line with what the on-line survey results are indicating $1,400 for an average monthly budget. Doing the math demonstrated to Dr. Jaczek that both the maximum amount allotted for ODSP which is $1,020, and the basic amount on social assistance ($562), were significantly insufficient to cover even basic survival costs. She agreed that the reality of living on such a meager amount each month, severely limited people’s choices where even essentials were concerned. It is important to note that Dr. Jaczek was the first York Region MPP out of the 5 that Do the Math Teams have met with to date, to have completed the Survey. Dr. Jaczek spoke to the high cost of rent being central to the problem and identified $600 as the likely cost of such an accommodation. She mentioned that it would be extremely difficult to even find a single person accommodation or bachelor apartment in her riding of Markham/Oakridges. In relation to the question of monthly food costs for an individual, she used $215 as the benchmark amount determined by the public health unit in relation to their Healthy Food Basket (the basic amount required by an individual to eat healthily over a one month time period). She commented that “given it has been proven(demonstrated) that $215 is the amount required to eat healthily by the Health Food Basket research, there has to be a way to make this available to everyone.” She said that most people would understandably forego regular dental care and that that would have necessary health implications and costs down the road. She suggested that we should really look into the Dental Benefits initiative for low income families, that the province had committed to as a component of their poverty reduction strategy and ask questions about where this is at. While important, this initiative once again is aimed at poverty reduction where children and families are concerned and does not address the needs of individuals who are living in poverty on Social Assistance or the Ontario Disability Support Program. Dr. Jaczek is in support of a full review of the Social Assistance System. She also commented that there is going to be a strong inclination on the part of the government, to review the system before making any changes or adjustments such as what we’re suggesting with the $100 Monthly food Supplement. When asked if she was in support of the $100 Monthly Food Supplement, Dr. Jaczek responded by saying that she didn’t feel confident that the supplement as proposed in it’s current form, would be accepted. She commented that the current deficit in Ontario will also make it more difficult to make a case for any increases and that the counter argument will be to “do the math” on what it would cost to implement the monthly healthy food supplement. While she agreed that individuals living on SA and OSDP clearly do not have enough money each month to live on, she suggested that Instead of asking for the creation of a new supplement, we might consider advocating for additional funds for food through existing mechanisms such as the Special Diet Benefit/Allowance. We realize that some of what is cited here is not a direct quote but a paraphrase of some of the discussion and comments made in relation to particular areas. We tried to capture the essence of what was discussed but would welcome any changes, additions or direct quotes that Dr. Jaczek wants to include that we may have missed or that she simply wants to make. 77 Some Questions that we either didn’t have time to raise or didn’t get a direct response to but would like to have Dr. Jaczek’s responses to include: Does Dr. Jaczek support an increase in the monthly food budget for individuals on SA and ODSP recipients at this time? Would Dr. Jaczek be willing to discuss this with other MPPs? More specifically would she be willing to discuss the Put Food in the Budget Campaign and/or the need to increase social assistance rates with: - Deb Matthews in her capacity as Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction - Madeleine Meilleur in her capacity as the Minster of Community and Social Services, and - Finance Minister Dwight Duncan What other MPPs would she suggest might be supportive of this initiative or others who might be interested in helping us to position this in a strategic fashion? Also, time didn’t allow for us to discuss how we might consider positioning this issue with the York Region Medical Officer of Health. While the Association of Public Health Agencies is partnering with the OSPN and the 25 in 5 Network around the PFIB campaign and individual Health Units and Directors such as Dr. David McKeown from Toronto are fully endorsing the PFIB, does she see a way for us to position this with the current MOH in York Region and what that might look like? If any of the above questions are ones that Dr. Jaczek would consider responding to and having included in our summary, please indicate those. If there are other suggestions she wanted to make to our team/campaign, but did not wish to include in the summary of our meeting together, those would also be welcomed. You can also take a look at the website where these summaries of MPP visits are posted: www.povertywatchontario.ca The summaries are located in a section titled Do the Math Reports. Thank you for your help with this. Yvonne Kelly, York Region Food Network Thank You Letter to Dr. Jaczek and Staff Dr. Jaczek and Staff On behalf of our team, Tom Pearson, Sam Orrico, Harris Stevenson and myself, I wanted to thank you for your generous offer of time, your willingness to participate in completing the Do the Math Survey together and the strategic direction that you provided us with during our meeting yesterday at your constituency office. Personally I would have preferred to focus more of the time we had together, on discussing your views about how to position this campaign as I found the time we did spend on this to be extremely insightful and informative, however it was also very helpful to complete the survey together. As we’ve learned from Doing the Math in other places, with both large and small groups, it is an extremely useful tool for brining awareness to how little people are actually living on and also how their life choices are limited. It does however, lend itself to lengthy discussions and even 78 debates/controversy at times, which can be useful as long as they don’t detract from reaching the goal of actually doing something with the new awareness that it yields. I was pleased that we had the time to do the math together and as I mentioned, you were the first MPP in York Region out of the 5 that have now been visited by various Do the Math Teams, to actually go through the exercise with the team, so thank you again for your openness and willingness to participate and share your thoughts on this with us. I didn’t want to take any more of your time at the end yesterday so after you left, I mentioned to your staff that our practice following the MPP visits is to write up a short summary of the visit, the Do the Math Survey findings if we have a chance to complete it, and the MPP’s views on the campaign as well as any other suggestions/comments that are relevant. Once approved by the MPP involved, we post this summary on the www.povertywatchontario.ca website (in the Do the Math Reports section) to provide an ongoing reflection of how the Put the Food in the Budget Campaign is going and where the MPPs are positioned on this initiative across the province. To date we have posted our summaries of York Region meetings with MPPs Greg Sorbara, Julia Munroe, Frank Klees and Michael Chan. Please check out the site for yourself and if you have any questions you can contact myself or Peter Clutterbuck from the Ontario Social Planning Network who is working on this initiative across Ontario. I will put together a summary of our meeting on Monday and send it to you for your input, any changes and final approval before anything is posted to the site. Once again, we thank you for your time, your patience, your insights and above all else, your ongoing commitment to the health and well being of York Region residents. Congratulations also on your new appointment as Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of the Environment. We know you will make great contributions through this new position. Take care and have a Great Day. I’ll be in touch with the summary. Yvonne Kelly, Food Program Coordinator YORK REGION FOOD NETWORK MPP Julia Munroe – York Simcoe GEORGINA COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY 110 High Street, PO Box 851 Sutton, Ontario L0E 1R0 Julia Munro – MPP York Simcoe 18977 Leslie Street, PO Box 1129 Sharon, Ont. L0G 1V0 17 August 2009 79 Dear Julia: th Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with us at the Food Pantry on Thursday, the 13 of August. I thought it very appropriate we meet in the Pantry, as it is the “front lines” of the work we are doing, and the subject of our combined interests. The “Do the Math” questionnaire is a vehicle which very aptly illustrates the personal conditions of poverty. It shows that stringent efforts to cut expenses, still leaves an individual on OW and ODSP well short of resources to survive in a meaningful fashion. The hard financial commitments, such as rent and utilities, compromise the variable commitments, like food, health, and clothing, etc. The 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction, the Ontario Social Development Network and affiliated groups in Ontario have joined together to promote and strongly recommend a monthly $100.00 Healthy Food Supplement for OW and ODSP recipients. We believe this supplement would enable individuals to improve their nutritional health and well-being. We also know that investing in individuals in this way would benefit our society in numerous ways including savings in healthcare, law enforcement, and would improve that overall quality of life for a significant number of people in our community. While this Supplement alone is not the entire answer to poverty being experienced in our community, it is one step towards improving the quality of life for people on OW and ODSP and one piece in the puzzle towards creating a system and a society, that more effectively meets the needs of its most vulnerable constituents. The “Do the Math” exercise clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of current support levels and we were pleased to hear that you do agree to support a review of the current support system. We would now ask that you expand on that commitment to extend your influence and encourage the passage of the Healthy Food Supplement . We realize we have many pressing matters in our Provincial Legislature, but the increase in poverty, due to our changing economic landscape, is not going away any time soon – thus necessitating this Food Supplement Motion. Again, thank you Julia for agreeing to meet with our Team and discuss the issues of poverty as well $100 Monthly Food Supplement which a growing number of people across Ontario are coming to agreement on as being a key piece in addressing the inadequacy of our current social assistance levels. This is a process however, and we look forward to meeting with you again in the not so distant future to build on this discussion and perhaps Do the Math Exercise together as a group. We are continuing to do this work in our community, as well as across York Region, and talk with constituents about the Healthy Food Supplement. We have been overwhelmed by the response of individuals who have done the Math on their own, and groups who have done it together, who come away with a new appreciation of how absolutely difficult it is for many members of our community to actually live from day to day, on clearly inadequate financial means. We will be in touch and if you have any questions for us following from our meeting,, don’t hesitate to contact us. Regards --- Alf Judd – Georgina Community Food Pantry MPP Peter Shurman – Thornhill Friday May 14, 2010 Report on Visit to see Peter Shurman 80 A team of four from the York Region Do the Math Working Group met with MPP Peter Shurman at his constitutency office in Thornhill. The team consisted of Tom Pearson, Yvonne Kelly, Christina Gampar and her mother Elizabeth Gampar. th Christina also participated in the ISARC Social Audit on April 20 . Christina spoke about her experience on ODSP as young person whose normal life activities of university and work had come to a halt as a result of her illness (Lyme’s Disease). She relayed how difficult it is to exist on a meager income, which cannot begin to cover the cost of her medications as well as other expenses, and which has forced her reliance on her family for financial security as well as daily care and mobility. Just recently, Mr. Shurman and his Constituency Assistant Noah had been made aware of some of the challenges facing people with Lyme Disease in particular. They conveyed a strong interest in Christina’s situation and agreed to look further in to the issue and what might be done at a political level. Mr. Shurman told us that he was indeed in support of our efforts around the $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement. He had completed the survey prior to our meeting with him and had reached a total of $1,450 for one month, in order for a person to live with health and dignity. He inquired about the costs of the program given the current number of individuals on social assistance at that time and what we were proposing as a way of presenting this and/or selling it to the current government and the public at large. We talked about the supplement as an investment now that would significantly reduce the incidence of chronic illness among the poorest households, which would in turn save health care dollars even in the short term. Mr. Shurman agreed that the adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that it is no longer just an adage, but something that research bears out in real terms. We shared information from the OAFB Cost of Poverty Report with him as well as the U of T Poverty is Making us Sick publication and he expressed an interest in having us provide him with these reports. He advised us that the best strategy for making the case for the supplement and other measure directed at helping people in vulnerable situations in general, is to make a strong business case for the initiative. In other words, how will this be paid for, what will the benefits be, what will the cost savings be, in particular in terms of health care and productivity. He also advised us to keep our points simple and direct, particularly for the public, to show them specifically how investing in this way will benefit everyone. He suggested that once we had more work done on this, that he would be willing to work with us on this further. As the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (responding to the Auditor General’s Report) which will be publishing and releasing its report this fall, Mr Shurman said that he could say right now that even without adding or looking for new money, that it was likely that by making changes to the ODSP system of administration, reducing fraud and updating the technology used in that system alone, enough money could be saved to fund the $100 healthy food supplement. Tom Pearson asked that MPP Shurman clarify the “fraud reference”. He responded by saying that the majority of “spillage” (funds wasted) was a result of the outdated system used to administer the current program – that’s where money could be saved and re-directed. Mr. Shurman conveyed his conviction to finding realistic solutions to some of the problems that we discussed today. He stated, “People who are victims of poverty through no fault of their own are at the short end of the stick in Ontario and we are not doing enough.” Invitation to Peter Shurman to participate in Take the Math Challenge MPP Peter Shurman 81 th I am happy to follow up with you again from our meeting on May 14 where we discussed the Put Food in the Budget Campaign and the Do the Math Survey. Once again, we appreciated the time you took to complete the survey and arrive at a budget figure of $1,450/month, the amount you deemed necessary for an individual on OW or ODSP to live with health and dignity. At the time we met, you said that you would be happy to support the $100 month Healthy Food Supplement and that in order to do so you would require more information from us, in the form of a business or investment plan for the supplement. I understood this to mean that it would be helpful for you to have more details as to how this investment in the lives of the most vulnerable individuals in Ontario, would not only assist them in their daily lives but make sense from an investment and health promotion perspective and to that end, be a cost savings to society in the long-run. At this point I can tell you that this information is being worked on and I can likely have more details to you towards the end of August/beginning of September. Right now, as promised, I want to provide Noah and yourself, with some important findings and links to 4 documents that reflect research that demonstrates the costeffectiveness of investing in people’s health and working to eliminate the disastrous and costly consequences of poverty on all of us. These four reports, while there are many others, include: Laurie, Nathan (2008) The Cost of Poverty – An Analysis of the Economic Costs of Poverty in Ontario. Ontario Association of Food Banks. November 2008 Lightman, E., Mitchell, A., and Wilson, B. (2008). Poverty is making us sick: A comprehensive survey of income and health in Canada. Toronto, Ontario. http://socialplanningtoronto.org/healthequitylightman2008.pdf Lightman, E., Mitchell, A., and Wilson, B (2009). Sick and Tired: The Compromised Health of Social Assistance Recipients and the Working Poor in Ontario. The Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, the University of Toronto’s Social Assistance in the New Economy Project and the Wellesley Institute. February 2009 Mikkonen, J. and Raphael, D (2010) Social Determinants of Health – THE CANADIAN FACTS. www.thecanadianfacts.ca When we started our campaign we were hopeful that the clear need for this assistance would result in a $100 increase being added to Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program payments in the spring 2010 Budget. This would have cost the province $700 - 800 million, an expense more than offset over the medium and long term, with significant savings in health and other ongoing costs of poverty. (The Cost of Poverty Report noted above, put out by the Ontario Association of Food Banks in 2008 states that “The remedial costs of poverty related to health care and crime are substantial. In Ontario, poverty-induced costs related to health care have an annual public cost of $2.9 billion.”(pg 4) Regretfully that modest increase did not happen. While the initial cost of the program may seem high to some, when you put it up against the research reflected in the Poverty is Making Us Sick Report which states that “every$1,000 increase in income leads to real increases in health. For instance, an increase of $1,000 in income for the poorest twenty percent of Canadians will lead to nearly 10,000 fewer chronic conditions, and 6,600 fewer disability days (over atwo week period)” (p.3) you will immediately see how the cost of the Healthy Food Supplement is a true investment not only in the health of our 82 population but it also stands to save all of us significant health care dollars not to mention safeguarding workplace productivity. The $100 /month Healthy Food Supplement for individuals on Social Assistance, which is $1,200 annually would easily constitute the 1,000 increase in annual income for the poorest Ontarians and would result in the savings as noted above. So at this juncture, it remains obvious to us that something must be done immediately to address the hunger and poverty in this province. The provincial Put Food in the Budget Committee, of which our local Do the Math Working Group is a part, is now gearing up for a province wide campaign similar to the Eat the Math Campaign which was conducted in Toronto in the spring. You may have heard about it. It was a successful public education campaign with several high profile Torontonians participating by essentially restricting themselves to the diet of a person living in poverty, for one week, and then reporting on their experience. This is one way of keeping this issue on the radar of the provincial government, as it appears they don't have any immediate plans to address issues of poverty and inadequacy until a full scale review of the social assistance system is complete some 12- 18 months from now. Several communities across Ontario that have been advocating for the immediate increase of $100 month in the form of a healthy food supplement, will be participating by identifying high profile/well known residents/celebrities, etc in their communities, and asking them to take the Do the Math Challenge. The challenge would be from October 4-8th and during that period each person taking the challenge would eat only what they could afford on a social assistance budget, and would journal and report back on their experience publicly. Given your support of the $100/month Health Food Supplement as a strategy to address poverty in Ontario, we th would like to invite you to take the Do the Math Challenge from October 4-8 . th th I will be away from August 4 – September 7 but will be checking my email from August 18 onward so if you wanted to touch base this week to discuss it before I leave for holidays, or give it some thought and we could connect after mid August, that would be fine too. We won’t be kick starting the campaign until September but want to identify which individuals are committed to taking the Challenge and advocating for poverty reduction in Ontario in this way, as soon as possible. Again, we appreciate your support Peter and I look forward to talking with you about this in the near future. I am working from my home office this week but can always be reached by email or at my home office number (905)936-7837 (The Step Institute). I look forward to hearing back from you. Yvonne Kelly, Chair of the Do the Math Working Group in York Region 83 PACKAGE FOR MPP VISITS Include the Following Items in your Package to the MPP either sending it before you visit or taking it with you when you meet in person. These items will not be replicated here as they already exist in the previous section titled “Information Package for Teams” Include in the MPP Package: - Letter to the MPP (samples provided) PFIB 1 page Description PFIB Questions and Answers YORK REGION Factsheet (or one that represents your community) Alliance to End Homelessness Report on Poverty and Homelessness in York Region Do the Math Budget Survey – hard copy and link to where they can complete it on-line. www.putfoodinthebudget.ca SAMPLE LETTERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION Letters to MPPs ** See Section with Sample Letters and Templates in MPP Team Visits Contact Information for MPPs and Ministers **See Section on Information Necessary to Send out your Letters Contact Information for the York Region Media Group 580B Steven Court, Newmarket Phone: 905-773-7627 50 Macintosh Dr., Unit 115, Markham Phone: 905-294-2200 6290 Main St., Stouffville Phone: 905-640-2612 84 Units 1 and 2 184 Simcoe Ave., Keswick, Phone: 905-476-7753 50 East Beaver Creek Rd., Richmond Hill Phone: 905-881-3373 8611 Weston Rd., Woodbridge Phone: 905-264-8703 Letters Requesting Funds Letter to Community PFIB Partners to Challenge everyone to Secure Financial Contributions for the provincial campaign Dear Community Partner: Thank you for attending the provincial strategy day of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign. Or (if they didn’t attend the Strategy Day) Thank you for your continued and valued participation in the PFIB Campaign. As you are aware, the campaign has the active participation of groups like yours, in thirty communities around Ontario. The campaign is growing in scope and diversity in support of our demand for an immediate $100 a month increase for every adult in Ontario receiving social assistance as a first step towards income adequacy. Our longer term goal is for a transparent method of setting social assistance levels that reflect the real cost of housing, food and everything that enables a life of health and dignity. Mobilizing a campaign of this magnitude and achieving the momentum we have experienced over the past two years would not have been possible without strong centralized leadership and coordination at the provincial level. But as we all know, this takes resources and these resources do not come easily. Until now, a small group of people have been primarily responsible for seeking out and securing the funding needed for the coordination piece at the centre of the campaign. Over the last two years, the campaign has successfully raised $5,000 every month, just in time, in order to keep building and moving forward. This has been a tireless effort and one that has 85 succeeded in bringing us this far. The campaign has been supported with generous donations from the Social Planning Network of Ontario, from many unions including CUPE, OPSEU, CAW and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund, and from faith and health organizations and individuals. It is apparent at this time, that we need to enlarge the circle of support and look to the communities represented in this effort, to assist in obtaining the funding necessary to maintain Mike in the pivotal role of provincial coordinator. Without this key staff position, we would be extremely limited in what we could achieve at the provincial campaign level. We could continue to work in our local communities but would not have the same direct and collective impact on the province that is made possible because of the ongoing coordinating and planning that the staff position makes possible. The Coordinator position and coordinating body also networks us together so that we can draw on the ideas and strengths from other communities. Even our local efforts would be compromised as so much of what we do is resourced by the coordinator and what can be achieved by the coordinating body because a staff person is resourcing that and providing strong facilitation, leadership and expertise. Case in point, days like the recent Provincial Strategy Day simply would not happen. These opportunities allow us to pool our strengths and build our power and cohesiveness as a cross-provincial campaign. In our opinion, maintaining the staff will be key to enabling us to build our power and momentum and bring real pressure to bear th on the province by utilizing the very strategies and tactics we developed together last Friday Dec 28 . As we head into the pre-budget and pre-election campaign we want to improve the certainty of our campaign resources and feel more secure every month than having the money come ‘just in time’. We estimate we need to raise $60,000 for 2011. With 30 communities participating in the PFIB campaign, we propose that each community on average, setting a goal to raise $1,000 from local organizations and donors, would enable us to raise half of our campaign budget for 2011. Other sources of funding would continue to be pursued but our collective support would ultimately make it realizable. With that in mind, we would like to issue a CHALLENGE to all communities involved in the PFIB Campaign. Please go back to your communities as we have done in Hamilton and York Region, and appeal to your supporters and communities to put their financial support behind this campaign. And here is a unique suggestion that we’re excited about. For those communities who had individuals who took the Challenge, don’t forget that these key supporters, new champions in their communities for the Healthy Food Supplement, would likely welcome the opportunity to support the campaign in this way. Perhaps challenging them to donate $100 would be a great way to start the ball rolling in terms of bringing them on board and they might in turn, put the Pledge Challenge out to others. This is just another example of how we can utilize the network and power of this movement to sustain the good work. To come this far over the past two years – to have achieved the success and momentum we’ve arrived at - to know what it is we need to do and not be able to push forward in this election year of 2011, would be a tremendous loss of REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE. LET’S GET THIS DONE TOGETHER!! If you accept this challenge of raising funds in your community, please make cheques payable to the Social Planning Network of Ontario, (Please put PFIB or put food in the budget on the memo line of the cheque) And mail to: Social Planning Network of Ontario 86 Social Planning Network of Ontario, c/o Community Development Halton, 860 Harrington Court Burlington, Ontario L7N 3N4 Letter Requesting Funds from Toronto and York Region Labour Council July 4, 2011 To: Faduma Mohamed Toronto and York Region Labour Council We are writing to ask for a donation of $3,200 to support the website and social media person for the York Region and Toronto South Riverdale Put Food in the Budget [PFIB] Campaigns from now until the provincial election in October. The PFIB Campaign is a coalition of community-based organizations in thirty communities across Ontario with its own provincial website at http://putfoodinthebudget.ca The Toronto and York Region chapters have been instrumental in developing their own local campaigns and in taking leadership at the provincial level. Campaign Demands: The campaign’s objective is to compel the McGuinty government to increase immediately the monthly amount given to every adult in Ontario receiving social assistance by $100. This is only a small first step towards income adequacy for them. Our second demand is that the McGuinty Government provide people on social assistance with the means for a life of health and dignity by introducing new social assistance rates that are based on the real costs of housing, utilities, food and other basic amenities of day-to-day life. Provincial Election Campaign Activities: The campaign has mobilized support in over 30 communities across Ontario in the past year. York Region and Toronto South Riverdale are two of the most active communities and our work is coordinated through the Do the Math Working Group of York Region and the Toronto Health and Strength Action Group. Our groups strive to maintain the momentum we have achieved so that adequate social assistance incomes are on the provincial election campaign agenda of all three parties. We have a broad base of decentralized support across Ontario and people communicate with each other through our websites and social media. We rely on our very competent volunteers and, in this critical period coming up to the election, want to be certain that there is consistent web and social media support. We want to pay one person $20/hr for 20 hours per week for 16 weeks for a total of $6,400. We are asking the Toronto and York Region Labour Council to contribute half of that amount. Also important to note, the campaign has been very focussed on and successful in building local leadership in communities across the province around issues of income security and equity. In keeping with our mission, we plan to make this position available to a person with lived experience of poverty, who has direct experience with the issues the campaign is seeking to address and also possesses website/social media skills. We want to continue 87 to support our emerging community leaders who will be vital for the upcoming challenges that we will no doubt face in the social and public service sector. We believe that raising social assistance rates for people with the lowest incomes in Ontario is part of the larger struggle for adequate incomes for all, which is in line with the labour movement’s mission. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss further this request for the campaign at both the local levels in Toronto and York Region as well as across Ontario. Pat Taylor Member, Do the Math Working Group in York Region Co-Chair, The Social Planning Council of York Region Yvonne Kelly Chair, Do the Math Working Group in York Region Member, Provincial Coordinating Committee for Put Food in the Budget Susan Bender Community Engagement Coordinator, South Riverdale Community Health Centre (Toronto) Member, Provincial Coordinating Committee for Put Food in the Budget Miscellaneous Advocacy Letters re: HFS Letter from PFIB Membership to 25 in 5 Network June 22, 2010 Greg deGroot-Maggetti, Co-Chair Mike Creek, Co-Chair 25 in 5 Network Steering Committee Dear Greg, Mike and Steering Committee Members, 88 The Put Food in the Budget (PFIB) Campaign Advisory Committee, supplemented with partners from communities across the province, had a teleconference call this week to discuss the Advisory Council’s Report released last week. There was agreement among our partners that an income security system must be developed that provides both adequacy and dignity to all low income people in Ontario. There is concern about the twelve to eighteen month timeframe that the Advisory Council projects for conducting a review that would result in a transformed income security system. We agree with the 25 in 5 Network’s position that the Premier should be urged to establish the review process as soon as possible. The PFIB leadership and supporters, however, are seriously concerned about the inadequacy of the Advisory Council’s recommendations for immediate action and the 25 in 5 Network’s support for the Advisory Council’s recommendations in that regard. Tax credits, rate increases, or a new housing benefit are presented as options for immediate action by the Advisory Council. The Report clearly expresses favour for either tax credits (pp. 8-9) or a new housing benefit (p. 15), while it refers to “the futility of attempting to achieve the goal of ‘income security’ solely through social assistance rates” (p. 9). PFIB challenges this position as indicated in a copy of our letter to the advisory Council accompanying this letter to 25 in 5. The PFIB Campaign appreciates that the 25 in 5 Network did not reinforce the notion that rate increases are futile. We especially recognize and appreciate that the Network specifically recommended the Healthy Food Supplement as the first option for immediate action in its media release on the Report. We are concerned, however, that the 25 in 5 Network is considering tax credits or a housing benefit as viable options for immediate action and that promoting these options alongside the HFS will dilute and create confusion in our advocacy efforts for improved income support to OW and ODSP recipients now. The most consistent and specific proposal for immediate action remains the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement as the first step towards income adequacy in social assistance rates. Tax credits are not an immediate response to the pressing issue of woefully inadequate incomes. The SARAC Report is completely vague on what type of credits it has in mind. Current tax credits for adults out of the labour market tend to be low. It will take time for provincial and federal governments to consider and implement tax credits that can become adequate sources of basic income for all adults on social assistance. In contrast, the Healthy Food Supplement is clear, serious and practical. It is a matter of adding $100/month to the existing Basic Needs Allowance that people already receive. A housing benefit is consistent with SARAC’s call for long-term reform of the income security system. However, as with tax credits, it is not an immediate response to existing needs. A well-designed and adequate housing benefit will take a year or more to develop and implement. Nor is it clear how many households on social assistance will qualify for the benefit, and how significant the benefit will be, until a concrete proposal is presented for public consideration. In contrast, the Healthy Food Supplement is to be an immediate benefit of $100/ month for all adults on social assistance. Therefore, PFIB asks that the 25 in 5 Network support the position that the Government be urged to take immediate action on chronic hunger and poor health among people living on social assistance by introducing the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement as the first step toward income adequacy for people on OW and ODSP. 89 Again, this is the only specific proposal that is on the table that really responds to the immediate needs that exist now. We ask 25 in 5 to distinguish immediate action on the HFS from support for tax credits and/or a housing benefit, which, depending on their deisgn, may be viable options for consideration in the longer-term review of the income security system. Respectfully Yours, Mike Balkwill On behalf of Co-ordinating Committee, Put Food in the Budget Campaign, Susan Bender, South Riverdale Community Health Centre Trudy Beaulne, Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo Naomi Berlyne, Houselink, ODSP Action Coalition Peter Clutterbuck, Social Planning Network of Ontario Nadia Edwards, The Stop Community Food Centre Michelle Gratton, Social Planning Council of Cornwall and Area Ruth Ingersoll, Community Development Council Quinte Gracia Janes, Niagara Social Assistance Reform Network Tara Kainer, Sisters of Providence, Kingston. Yvonne Kelly, York Region Food Network Susan Muma, 25 in 5 Hamilton Network for Poverty Reduction Darren Nesbit, leader in poverty reduction from Sarnia Deirdre Pike, Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton and 25 in 5 Hamilton Network for Poverty Reduction Tom Pearson, Poverty Action for Change Coalition, York Region Jonah Schein, The STOP Community Food Centre Jim Sinclair, Poverty Reduction Work Group of Nipissing Sister Priscilla Solomon, Poverty Reduction Work Group of Nipissing Bronwyn Underhill, Fairview Community Health Centre 90 Letters to the Editor – Newspaper Articles/Announcements DO THE MATH YORK REGION – NEXT STEPS – Newspaper Announcement of Do the Math Working Group Inception In June 2009, the DO THE MATH WORKING GROUP of York Region was struck and we have worked diligently since that time to convince MPPs of the need for implementation of the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance and for rates that reflect the real costs of living. We have made progress on this front and yet the politicians still need to know that this is an issue for voters. We we were excited to receive funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation to allow us to continue our work – to bring individuals and organizations to a place where they could voice their need for the province to put hunger and poverty on the agenda in this election year. Our project ADVOCACY: AWARNESS TO ACTION, is intended to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Many people are aware of the costs of poverty to everyone in our society, but are not equipped or sure how they can advocate and initiate change. We are producing a video that will inspire individuals and groups to get involved and have a voice on this issue and most importantly will speak to concrete ways in which they can actually do that. In cooperation with several agencies and people with lived experience of poverty, we are also developing an Advocacy Plan for the year of 2011 that will enable us to our make voices heard through Media, Letter Writing Campaigns, Social Networking Tools, Individual, group and municipal endorsements of the HFS, Group Presentations and Team Meetings with MPPs across York Region. We are working with one Advocates Group in the north end of the Region preparing individuals to reach out and speak to others about how they can get involved and make a difference and are planning for another Advocates Group to begin in the south end of the Region in April. We work closely with the Provincial PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET (PFIB) Campaign which is active in 30 communities across Ontario. You can always visit www.putfoodinthebudget.ca and www.yrfn.ca to learn about current activities and ways to advocate for the $100 HFS. We have just launched a campaign to educate people about the burden on meal programs and food banks across Ontario that are trying to keep up with the increasing demand for food. Visit the site and find out how you can support the thousands of volunteers in emergency food programs across Ontario, by asking the provincial government to increase their role. We are excited about the AAA Project and to be addressing income inadequacy – the real cause of hunger and food insecurity. Keep posted on what we’re up to by checking out both the websites above and call Yvonne at (905)967-0428 Ext. 205 for more information. DO THE MATH YORK REGION - Letter to the Editor submitted to YRMG on July 23, 2010 by key member and advocate – Rev. Robin Wardlaw The York Region Do the Math Working Group is part of the provincial Put Food In the Budget campaign organizing committee (PFIB). This grassroots coalition was formed in 2009 because low-income individuals on social assistance in Ontario don’t have sufficient funds to buy the food they need to survive, let alone have a healthy diet. 91 When we started our campaign we hoped that the clear need for a Healthy Food Supplement would result in a $100 increase to Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program payments in the spring 2010 Budget. This would have cost the province $700 - 800 million, an expense more than offset by significant savings in health and other ongoing costs of poverty. Instead of $100, social assistance recipients got a 1% increase in the spring budget, about $6 or $10 per month, depending on the program. An extra loaf of bread and a couple of litres of milk. Can we afford a $100 increase? The Cost of Poverty report of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (2008) states that “In Ontario, poverty-induced costs related to health care have an annual public cost of $2.9 billion.” Not to mention added crime costs, also cited. The authors of Poverty is Making us Sick - 2008 (Community Social Planning Council of Toronto), point out, “a $1,000 increase in annual income to the poorest fifth of the households will result in 10,000 fewer chronic conditions and 6,600 fewer disability days lost at work every two weeks.” Spend a billion, save three. Or more, and give people some dignity back at the same time. So the question is, can we afford not to do it? The cost of a Healthy Food Supplement is a true investment in the health of Ontarians. It also stands to save all of us significant health care dollars and safeguard workplace productivity. When the Social Assistance Review Advisory Committee (SARAC) was struck by the provincial government in January, our hopes went up again. The SARAC Report was released in mid-June. Our initial enthusiasm quickly faded. No $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement. Instead the recommendation that the province engage in a long-term review of the system (beginning in September, perhaps) and taking 12-18 months. Once again no immediate strategies to redress poverty for those who are barely surviving today. We are also puzzled that the province intends to cut the Special Diet Allowance Program which has been helping thousands of people with medical conditions, by providing additional funds, depending on their medical condition, up to a maximum of $250/month. . The new Special Diet Allowance will have a greatly reduced budget. And no one has explained yet how it will work. We are truly disappointed in the government’s failure to address the immediate needs of those living in absolute poverty in this province. The message for the lowest-income citizens so far? Get used to it. The York Region Do the Math Working Group believes a thorough review and overhaul of the system as it stands now is necessary, but what’s stopping the government from doing something tangible for our neighbours who need it now? Rev. Robin Wardlaw York Region Do the Math Working Group Resources ** There are many resources in this document that can be used to draw from when writing letters for the campaign. Three key documents that can already be found in the Information for Advocacy Teams beginning on pp. 101 York Region Fact Sheet York Region Alliance to End Homelessness Report Health Allies for the PFIB Campaign Joint Statement ** Other Key Resources are included in Section 7.) RESOURCES AND LINKS 92 ENDORSEMENTS Sample Endorsements for Individuals and Municipalities Endorsements by Individuals – Template Template and Samples of Municipal Endorsements MOTION TO SUPPORT PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN Whereas arbitrarily setting social assistance rates does not ensure that people receive adequate incomes to meet the basic necessities of life; and Whereas inadequate benefit levels lead to monthly cycles of chronic hunger among recipients creating health consequences with both personal and economic costs to us all; and Whereas it is important that there be accountability for providing or failing to provide adequate income supports for people who must be on social assistance; and Whereas the basics of food and shelter are out of reach on current assistance levels, forcing people who are on assistance to make impossible choices between paying rent and buying food; and Whereas the purchasing power of social assistance benefits is now 60% of what is was 15 years ago, when social assistance levels for individuals was reduced by 22% and the cost of nutritious eating has continued to increase every year since then; and Whereas the increasing number of people relying on social assistance and food banks has grown as a result of the current economic crisis; and Whereas the existence of widespread food insecurity and chronic illness related to poor nutrition is the result of public policy choices, not the responsibility of people living on inadequate incomes; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF YOUR MUNICIPALITY HERE RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 1. That your municipality here supports a clear and transparent process to set social assistance rates - rates that are set on the real cost of living a healthy, dignified life in Ontario; and 2. That your municipality here calls on the government of Ontario to immediately introduce and fully fund a $100.00 per month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step toward meeting basic needs; and 3. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, The Finance Minister, Dwight Duncan, The Minister of Community and Social Services, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Health Deb Mathews; and 93 4. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to area municipalities as well as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association, requesting their support and endorsement of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement. Waterloo-Cambridge Municipal Endorsement of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement August 26, 2011 C06-30 The Honourable Dalton McGuinty Premier of Ontario Legislative Building, Queen's Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Dear Premier: Re: “Put Food in the Budget” Campaign Please be advised that the Council of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo at their regular meeting held on August 25, 2011, approved the following motion: THAT the Region of Waterloo endorse the “Put Food in the Budget” campaign, and request that the Provincial government introduce a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step towards meeting basic needs; AND THAT notification of the endorsement be forwarded to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mike Schuster, Commissioner, Social Services at 519-883-2170. Please forward any written responses to this letter to Kris Fletcher, Director, Council & Administrative Services/Regional Clerk. Yours truly, Stevie Natolochny (Mrs.) Council/Committee Support Specialist cc: L. Terry, Executive Director, Social Planning Council of Cambridge & North Dumfries M. Schuster, Commissioner, Social Services 94 August 26, 2011 C06-30 Francis Lankin & Munir A. Sheikh Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario 2 Bloor Street West 4th Floor, Suite 400 Toronto ON M4W 3E2 Dear Ms Lankin & Mr. Sheikh: Re: “Put Food in the Budget” Campaign Please be advised that the Council of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo at their regular meeting held on August 25, 2011, approved the following motion: THAT the Region of Waterloo endorse the “Put Food in the Budget” campaign, and request that the Provincial government introduce a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step towards meeting basic needs; AND THAT notification of the endorsement be forwarded to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mike Schuster, Commissioner, Social Services at 519-883-2170. Please forward any written responses to this letter to Kris Fletcher, Director, Council & Administrative Services/Regional Clerk. Yours truly, Stevie Natolochny (Mrs.) Council/Committee Support Specialist cc: L. Terry, Executive Director, Social Planning Council of Cambridge & North Dumfries M. Schuster, Commissioner, Social Services 95 MOTION TO SUPPORT PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET by PORT COLBORNE Councillor Desmarais, February 14, 2011 Whereas arbitrarily setting rates does not ensure that people receive adequate incomes to meet the basic necessities of life; and Whereas inadequate benefit levels lead to monthly cycles of chronic hunger among recipients creating health consequences with both personal and economic costs to us all; and Whereas it is important that there be accountability for providing or failing to provide adequate income supports for people who must be on social assistance; and Whereas the basics of food and shelter are out of reach on current assistance levels, forcing people who are on assistance to make impossible choices between paying rent and buying food; and Whereas the purchasing power of social assistance benefits is now 60% of what is was 15 years ago, when social assistance l evels for individuals was reduced by 22% and the cost of nutritious eating has continued to increase every year since then; and Whereas the increasing number of people relying on social assistance and food banks has grown as a result of the current economic crisis; and Whereas the existence of widespread food insecurity and chronic illness related to poor nutrition is the result of public policy choices, not the responsibility of people living on inadequate incomes; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PORT COLBORNE RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 1. That the City of Port Colborne supports a clear and transparent process to set social assistance rates - rates that are set on the real cost of living a healthy, dignified life in Ontario; and 2. That the City of Port Colborne calls on the government of Ontario to immediately introduce a $100.00 per month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step toward meeting basic needs; and 3. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, The Minister of Community and Social Services and area municipalities. 96 Sample Endorsement by Emergency Food Providers ENDORSEMENT BY EMERGENCY FOOD PROVIDERS As providers of emergency food programs, both food banks and meal programs across Ontario, we call on the Government of Ontario to recognize the rapidly increasing demand for emergency food that is a result of the grossly inadequate incomes of those who access our programs. We also all on our Government to recognize that the majority of our programs and services are made possible by volunteers who are experiencing the burden of providing for peoples’ basic necessities with rapidly dwindling resources. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Volunteer Sector in our province, not our government, is shouldering the bulk of responsibility where our neighbors in need are concerned. With the promise of increased food prices we expect the following to happen: - Another spike in the number of people on low and fixed incomes who will be seeking emergency assistance from our food banks and meal programs and - A decline in food and cash donations as higher food prices will cut into everyone’s ncomes and ability to give. To that end, and for the following reasons, We Choose to Endorse an immediate increase of $100 per month for all adults on Social Assistance - - - 5% of individuals who access our Food Banks in Ontario are on social assistance. he purchasing power of social assistance benefits is now 60% of what it was 15 years ago, when social assistance levels for individuals was reduced by 22% and the cost of nutritious eating has continued to increase every year since then. Inadequate benefit levels lead to monthly cycles of chronic hunger among recipients creating health consequences with both personal and economic costs to us all. Food bank use in Ontario increased by 28% from 2008-2010 forcing many food banks to reduce the amount of food available to those it serves. Food banks found themselves having to make special appeals to the wider community and corporate sector to try and keep up with the need. In 2010 close to 60% of food banks reported buying more food than in previous years. The number of meal programs supported by food banks increased by 25% in 2010. The basics of food and shelter are out of reach on current assistance levels, forcing people who are on assistance to make impossible choices between paying rent and buying food. As volunteers and citizens who care about our neighbors we call on the government of Ontario to immediately introduce a $100.00 per month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance as a first step toward meeting basic needs and reducing the impossible demand on our emergency food system. We know the Healthy Food Supplement will make a very real difference in the lives of those relying on social assistance and it will reduce some of the current demand on our food banks who are striving to meet the needs of countless others on low or fixed incomes. There will always be a role for volunteers but there are limits and we believe it is unreasonable for charitable responses alone to be expected to replace adequate income. Name _______________________________________________________________ Emergency Food Program or Organization ________________________________ Contact Information ___________________________________________________ 97 AAA – E-ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN We made two Submissions for On-line Petitions one of which was accepted, Go Petition. This is where we have directed people to put their online support behind the campaign. We had some technical challenges and while there are nearly 400 signatures presently on the petition we suspect that the number would have been much higher. In future projects, we would like to utilize more social media outlets to glean support for our cause. We networked via email to obtain support and at events, always directing people back to the Petition and to the site as well as the www.putfoodinthebudget.ca site where continual updates are posted from activity across Ontario. We also invited people to tweet about the campaign on the YRFN website to encourage more awareness and to get people to visit the petition. Our Go Petition Submission Put Food in the Budget Promote health and fight poverty 98 If nutritious food is essential for good health, and of course it is, thena fighting poverty is the best medicine money can buy. The PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN represents 30 communities across Ontario that promotes the implementation of a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario. The Supplement will serve as a down payment in closing the monthly gap of food deficiency while reducing the negative health effects of poverty. PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN is in partnership with the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC), and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, among others. Over the past two years, more than10,000 Ontarians and 50 MPPs of all three political stripes, have completed the Do the Math Budget Survey, calculating the total monthly costs for a single individual. The average that they arrived at was $1,350 per month. The poverty line for a single individual is at $19,000/year or approximately $1,600/month. Most people on social assistance receive $592 per month. Once rent is paid, there is little if nothing left for food, forcing thousands of Ontarians to rely on already over burdened food banks. The existence of widespread food insecurity and chronic illness related to poor nutrition is the result of our society’s collective negligence and a failure of public policy. Single individuals and single parents have been left out of the Ontario reduction strategies to date, and they continue to exist in “deep poverty”, many 60% below the poverty line. There is no current formula for establishing social assistance benefit levels and the basic needs allowance is set far below actual market costs. We are pleased the government has created its Social Assistance Review to evaluate the true cost of living in communities across Ontario and we are asking them to establish a new benchmark for income adequacy in setting benefit rates. In the meantime, individuals living in “deep poverty” cannot afford to wait any longer to have a place to live and enough money to purchase healthy food. To make the economic case, one Globe and Mail editorial put it this way: “Putting money in the hands of low-income people who will spend it in their communities is an idea with remarkable wide consensus.” One strategy that can reduce poverty, save health care dollars and stimulate local economies – hardly and idea to dismiss so readily, and yet here we are. To this end: We call on the Government of Ontario to commit immediately to a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on Social Assistance to address the growing crisis of deep poverty. We call on municipalities to send a strong message to the provincial government – stating that social assistance rates need to be increased because the health & economic costs of not reducing poverty are adding up. We advocate for: - Adequate incomes that will enable all Ontarians to purchase their own food and live with dignity. 99 - A $100 Healthy Food Supplement as a first step towards closing the income gap for people on social assistance while also reducing the negative health effects and related costs of poverty Our Submission to Avaaz (Worldwide Petitions) which was not accepted Hello Avaaz Administrators, We would like to bring attention to the truth about Canada. Hon. Monique Begin, the former Minister of National Health & Welfare of Canada ,writes that for years we have bragged that the United Nations deemed us ” the best country in the world in which to live”. But that was back in the 1960s and since then Canada has dropped in the ranks. And yet our image and our reputation, marches forward and blinds us to the growing problems we do have in Canada. Canada is the ninth richest country in the world - it is so wealthy that it manages to mask the reality of poverty. While our country is one of the world’s biggest spenders in health care, we have one of the worst records in providing an effective social safety net. The Canadian Facts Social Determinants of Health Our costs for treatment of chronic disease are on the increase because we are not spending an adequate amount on health promotion, disease prevention and on the alleviation of poverty. The PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN represents 30 communities across Ontario that promote the implementation of a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario. The Supplement will serve as a down payment in closing the monthly income gap. Right now individuals who are on social assistance receive less monthly income than they did in 1995 when rates were cut by 22%. As a result, it is impossible for people to afford rent - most are paying well above 50%, some 70-90% of their monthly income on rent leaving little to nothing for buying food. And this continues in a country as prosperous and as proud as Canada, as people grow complacent and comfortable with the institutionalization of food banks and emergency food programs which have become the acceptable way to feed those in poverty. A very undignified, inefficient and inequitable approach. 10, 000 + Ontarians and 50 MPPs of all political parties have completed the 'Do the Math' Budget Survey which calculates the monthly living costs for a single individual. The average monthly budget arrived at was $1,350. Important to note, based on current costs of living and the unreasonably high cost of housing, the poverty line for a single individual is approximately $1,600/month. An individual on social assistance receives $592 per month. Once rent is paid, there is little if anything left, forcing thousands of Ontarians to rely on already over burdened food banks. The basic needs allowance is set far below actual market costs. This negligence has created a widespread food insecurity crisis and increase in chronic illness related to poor nutrition. These issues are a cost to society, where as putting money in the hands of low-income individuals will immediately benefit our communities and keep many from succumbing to poor health. ("How paying people’s way out of poverty can help us all" Globe & Mail) 100 The government has created its Social Assistance Review to evaluate the true cost of living in communities across Ontario and we are asking them to establish a new benchmark for income adequacy in setting benefit rates. In the meantime, individuals living in deep poverty cannot afford to wait any longer to have a place to live and enough money to purchase healthy food. The PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN is in partnership with Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC), and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. We would like Avaaz’s support to call on the Government of Ontario to commit immediately to a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on Social Assistance to address the growing crisis of deep poverty that is becoming more urgent with each passing day. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing back re: your decision. Yvonne Kelly, Community Development Coordinator, York Region Food Network AAA – TRAINING FOR ADVOCATES AND GROUPS Introduction to Training and Resources Training for the Advocates included viewing the Video and getting feedback and initial reactions from the Advocates so that we can have some understanding of how people seeing it for the first time might receive it. We reviewed and adapted the Facilitator’s guide for discussion after the video and tweaked it accordingly so that it was specific enough but left it open enough to allow for discussion of the issues as people raised them. A great deal of the Training and Preparation for Advocates focussed on how to use language that encouraged people to talk about poverty and healthy communities without feeling themselves to be judged, or wrong or without knowledge. We utilized “A New Way to Talk about the Social Determinants of Health” a great deal. This is the research done that helps us to understand how our very language and the use of particular words actually engages people around this subject, or turns them off. The research looked at how people receive information or reject it, given their initial political biases or bents. So a phrase like “levelling the playing field for everyone” likely won’t go over so well with someone that is on the right side of the spectrum politically but saying something more to the effect of “providing equal opportunities for all” would resonate more and you would keep the person engaged. Because our use of the video in public groups, is intended for some, to engage them for the first time on these issues. That is why we chose to use language of inclusion for the video in particular and were careful to avoid language that put people on the edge or where they felt blamed or alienated. We wanted to connect. That is where the power points can come in to this. Depending on the group that you are speaking to or working with, we can utilize various power points that are more to the point on a particular issue for example the $100 101 Healthy Food Supplement or the need for more affordable housing, or a realignment of the tax structure. Again, after people are engaged, you can introduce more challenging issues and solutions to them for discussion. And you always consider the group you are working with and begin where they are at. If working with a group of activists, obviously you can get down to the hard work of redressing poverty in ways that you wouldn’t begin to attempt say with a Chamber of commerce Group for example. The Video can be used in all contexts and then we utilized various power point presentations depending on the group we were speaking to. Resources for Training LINK TO THE VIDEO: “IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE THE WORLD” http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Faciliitators’ Discussion Guide Can be found on pp15 of this E-booklet “A New Way to Talk About the Social Determinants of Health” ** Link provided in the final section of the manual - SAMPLE CERTIFICATE FROM OUR JOINT TRAINING ON SEPTEMBER 17 TH - Carolyn Mooi – Community Mission Specialist with the Heart and Stroke Foundation provided advocacy training for their Healthy Candidates Campaign together w/ Yvonne Kelly, AAA Project providing Advocate Training for this project Certificate to recognize Participation and leadership In creating healthy communities for all Training for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Healthy Candidates Campaign and The Advocacy: Awareness to Action Project (AAA) Awarded to ____________________________________________ Saturday September 17th 2011 York Region Food Network (YRFN) - 510 Penrose St. Newmarket, ON Facilitators: Yvonne Kelly, Community Development Coordinator, YRFN Carolyn Mooi, Community Mission Specialist, Heart and Stroke Foundation 102 AAA - PRESENTATIONS Children, Youth and Their Families Planning Forum (two presentations) PRESENTATION TO CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES FORUM FOR YR IN MAY 2011 AT THEIR ADVOCACY PLANNING DAY – I PRESENTED OUR AAA PROJECT AT THAT TIME. What was your message? what were you trying to achieve, your goal? what was your core message? What was your strategy? What was most effective? What was your biggest challenge? The presentations are only examples to help launch the group into small group discussions. We want to set the tone and also support understanding for some agencies that might not fully grasp these advocacy components. I want to touch briefly on two Advocacy Campaigns at the provincial and local level that we have been involved in over the past two years. One has led naturally in to the other. The Do the Math York Region Working Group is a local group advocating for increased rates for social assistance, beginning with a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all Adults on OW and ODSP The group began in June 2009 and we were part of the larger provincial Coalition – PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET. - The goal was to have the provincial government immediately introduce the Healthy Food Supplement for individuals on SA The message was that the Social Assistance Rates were outdated and , inadequate; they keep people in poverty and ill health and are actually costing Ontarians more money in the long run in lost productivity and costs related to chronic disease. The first strategy - Do the Math Budget Survey on line at www.putfoodinthebudget.ca has been successful in broadening general public awareness and also bringing more attention to senior levels of government as 15,000 people have been on-line to complete the survey and submit to the Premier as well as other Ministers involved. Meilleur, Matthews, Broten and Duncan in particular Our second strategy was to meet with educate and bring on board, MPPs from across York Region (and in the case of the PFIB - across Ontario); we requested that they complete the Do the Math Budget Survey of the monthly costs of living for a person on SA, and speak to the inadequate rates which are 40% lower when cost of living is taken into account, than they were pre-1995. - This was a successful strategy in terms of RAISING AWARENESS among MPPs – 45 were met with across Ontario, the majority of which agreed the rates were insufficient (from all parties) We met with all 7 MPPs in York Region and were able to ascertain quotes from several to this effect that we’ve been able to use in subsequent media pieces and to leverage other supporters 103 A third strategy - The Do the Math Challenge across Ontario was also very successful in bringing awareness to the issue and helping to begin the dialogue with people who are not usually involved in these types of issues. - 1,000 people took the Diet Challenge, of living on primarily items from a food bank; 12 people in York Region completed it and spoke to it in a variety of ways, newspaper, facebook, twitter, public events. We gained a strong Ally in Debora Kelly editor of the Era Banner with this strategy. Raising Awareness and bringing new advocates and champions on side has been quite successful due to these main strategies However, we continued to hear from MPPs that despite their awareness, they were not prepared to make the HFS an issue until the general public was on board with this kind of approach to reducing poverty. At the same time, during the York Region Social Audit in April 2010, we were hearing from individuals with lived experience of poverty and agency staff who indicated a wish to be involved in more advocacy efforts if leadership and a mechanism were in place to make participation more do-able and effective. At that point YRFN and the Do the Math Working Group applied for Advocacy Development Funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario to pilot an advocacy project in York Region that would involve more individuals with experience of poverty and a broader participation of agencies and individuals already working in this field. Heart and Stroke has provided us funding for this year, and potentially next year, to develop these action steps, to mobilize the community to make this a voting issue and in turn increase the pressure on our MPPs to make this an issue in the election and in the house. Our strong sense was that while Awareness was growing each day of the need to address the social assistance rates which were keeping individuals and families in poverty, we knew that the political will was not there and we had been told quite clearly until the public will was there for something to be done, that things would not progress. So we named our project: ADVOCACY: Awareness to Action with the emphasis on Action and developing strategies to engage more people in the general public (not the usual suspects) as well as to engage people who were already on side with the issues but weren’t clear on what they could do to effect change in their small corner of the world. (poverty advocates, agency board members, volunteers) There is often a huge gap between awareness of issues and awareness of the types of action that people can take to effect change – 1.) ways to get involved,2.) resources to aid advocacy efforts and 3.) processes that are most effective. - So the Goal of this project was to develop strategies and mobilize people with actions that they could employ to put the Healthy Food Supplement specifically, and the need to address poverty more broadly, on the public agenda as we head into the October Provincial Election. Here are some of the strategies we are Currently working on to make this happen. Bear in mind that we are in the th 5 month of the first year of funding, so the strategies are being developed and utilized as we speak. As a Pilot, we are planning to share our findings with other communities and groups as we develop them. STRATEGIES h.) MPP Letter writing Campaign - 100 letters for $100 Campaign (100 letters to 7 MPPs in YR) 104 i.) Development of Advocate Teams in the north and south end of the Region: Training of individuals on outreach, advocacy, speaking to the issues, going out to groups, and working with a peer training model j.) Development of a Video Production Working Group to produce a video to take out to communities, groups, MPPs speaking to the importance of Healthy Communities and working to eradicate poverty. k.) Do the Math Working Group as Advocacy Planning Group for the AAA Project – inviting additional agencies and individuals to join and include representation from different areas and sectors across the Region. This Group continues into Year two of funding beyond the election to develop an ongoing and sustainable Advocacy Group and Strategy focussed on issues of poverty in York Region. An Advocacy Calendar that individuals, groups and agencies can plug into monthly will be a strategy to promote continuous advocacy with broader involvement. An advocacy plan that organizations, groups, and individuals can plug into that will involve letter writing campaigns, social marketing strategies, presentations to groups/boards and a media strategy. l.) Teams to visit MPPs to be developed over the summer. Teams will include 1 or 2 members with lived experience and 1 or 2 staff persons or volunteer with knowledge of poverty issues. m.) Placing the HFS in the broader context of other initiatives for Change that are presently taking place - As part of the ISARC Social Audit Report in YR, one recommendation was for the Region to endorse and th support the HFS to the Province. ON January 27 they adopted the recommendations and forwarded their endorsement to the Minister of C and SS. - Other Advocacy and Action Related Events such as the screening of POOR NO MORE that speaks to how poverty has taken a stranglehold in Canada and what options in other countries look like. - Participating in the SPNO- PFO Campaign – we invited them to present the Poverty Free Ontario Agenda th in YR on June 7 and have coordinated with the SPC YR, Heart and Stroke, and John Taylor in his role as the Co-Chair of the HSPB to conduct this event in Aurora and get as many people out for it as possible. HOPING TO SEE ALL of YOU THERE. A good way to dovetail with what your ONE VOICE SUMMIT comes up with today. c.) Specific Campaign to Engage Volunteers from the Emergency Food Sector to support adequate incomes as an alternative to charity - And have a voice at the provincial level. This stragegy originated with us and is being utilized across Ontario. - VOLUNTEERS ARE VOTERS TOO… Picking a Target Group: In terms of Constituent Groups that the Government is more likely to listen to and feel the pressure from, it is the Volunteer Sector in this case, primarily the Volunteer Sector responsible for emergency food in the food banks and meal programs. 28% increase in food bank use from 2008-2010 and a 25% increase in the provision of meal programs across Ontario alone in 2010 and that is only meal programs associated with known food banks. They are feeling the pinch and are worried about their capacity to meet growing needs. Many also realize that this is not the best way of meeting people’s basic needs, and that the government continues to download our collective responsibility to charitable groups and rely on haphazard charitable responses. It is irresponsible and does not even meet the needs of hunger let alone do anything to eliminate hunger. 105 TOOLS 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) Letter Writing Kit Contacts / Networks Action Sheet Do the Math Budget Survey Video with Facilitator’s Guide and Resources ** (in progress) YRFN website will host an AAA section for all resources, upcoming events and opportunities**(in progress) 6.) Resources pertaining to the Volunteers are Voters Too! Campaign Strategy Two of the biggest Challenges have been: - Engaging individuals with Lived Experience and establishing meaningful involvement opportunities. Finding the right language in which to talk to the larger public about issues of poverty that doesn’t turn them off immediately. To address the first challenge we decided to invest a fair amount of time in reaching out to and working with individuals who were really interested in talking about the issues and working to bring others on board. We’ve brought together 2 Advocates Groups in the north and south of YR to meet and strategize regularly, work to educate the public about what they can do to inform their elected officials about the HFS. These groups operate on a peer to peer basis, assisting others to write letters of support and also going out their community, boards of agencies, etc. to ask for their support where the HFS is concerned. - The second challenge was to find language that allowed us to promote a conscious understanding and appeal to people in a rational way that allowed them to see that creating a healthy community and working on eradicating poverty, goes hand in hand. As I’ve already mentioned, one aspect of the project is to develop a video that carries this message and will be used as both an awareness and advocacy tool throughout July – Election time and beyond. We have had to come to terms with the fact that “our language” is not palpatable for most people in the general community and when we’re talking about conveying our messages to the least converted, its important to realize what kind of statements lead to people closing down their minds even before we get to our main message. The message and how we communicate it is everything. We’ve relied largely on a document called: “ A New Way to Talk about the Social Determinants of Health.” Developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in the US. Very applicable to what we’re trying to do right now in Canada around these issues. OPPPORTUNITIES I SEE For the AAA Advocacy Project and the Children and Youth Summit ONE VOICE to collaborate and support our advocacy efforts. For ongoing Advocacy efforts to be maintained post – election; what we do afterward to hold our government accountable and continue creating awareness and mobilizing people is as important as what we can do in the next 4 months. Maybe more so. Our project will extend to 2012. For working more closely with the Human Services Planning Board and advocate together to the province, on behalf of York Region. 106 Utilize all of sources at our disposal, social networking, for example, to its fullest potential and our capacity, to get message out and multiply the numbers of people we can bring on board. For reaching out to people who are already supportive and onside, who can take a stand and advocate in ways they hadn’t realized before. ie. Members of Boards of Directors who as individuals are Voters and can approach their own MPPs. To reach out to the Volunteer Sector who are familiar with the increasing needs and who have not only the respect of the larger community but also our elected officials. Imagine them standing up and announcing Enough is Enough! Volunteers are Voters Too….. Several opportunities to Plug into the larger Working for a Poverty Free Ontario Campaign which you’ll learn more th about on June 7 in Aurora. LESSIONS LEARNED SO FAR….. The importance of language The importance of being connected and aware of other groups that are advocating on larger issues The importance of identifying and creating meaningful ways for involvement for everyone. The importance of creating momentum, staying passionate and not waste people’s time; make sure every meeting has goals, energy and people leave feeling that they’re accomplishing something important. The importance of getting out of the mindset that we only talk about these issues before a pending election. These issues and our advocacy for them must be part of the language and fabric of what we do ongoing. The importance of taking the time to have conversations with people about the issues– one conversation at a time will build the revolution of change. The importance of taking every opportunity when you have people’s attention, to make your ASK of them. Seize the moment when they want to Do Something. Be ready to ASK THEM and Be Specific. Case in Point: A little advocacy demonstration in Action. I am going to ask each one of you hear today to take away an Endorsement form for the Healthy Food Supplement and Return it to me by the end of today. When I meet with groups, I ask for commitments to write a letter to your MPP, wherever you live, and send me a copy of the letter. I take people’s names who commit and contact information so I can follow-up with them. So for nd my 2 ASK I will send around a clipboard for those of you to give me your names and contact information if you are interested in writing a letter to your MPP, or if you would like to know more about our AAA Advocacy Project. My third ASK is that each of you also take 2 flyers today and put them somewhere visible in your agency. Plan to th attend the screening of POOR NO MORE, and also the JUNE 7 Presentation of Wrokign for a Poverty Free Ontario, and bring at least one additional person with you. These promise to be great events that are even better opportunities for you to take your ONE VOICE message after today. 107 Dec. 5, 2011 – Presentation of AAA Project Video and Power point at Children and Youth Forum Held at Blue Hills Child and Family Services in Aurora See Powerpoint Presentations available at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ PRESENTATIONS TO BOARDS OF DIRECTORS (Sample Agenda for Presentation to YRFN Board of Directors) April 14, 2011 AAA PROJECT Advocacy: Awareness to Action Presentation Overview of the ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Video : Talked about the Video in production and got some feedback from the group 3 Examples of Advocacy Strategies - Developed through our Project and being shared with provincial PFIB a.) MPP Letter writing Campaign – I need copies of everyone’s letters How many different MPPs do we have represented here b.) Contacts/Networks Action Sheet c.) Campaign to Engage Volunteers from the Emergency Food Sector to support adequate incomes as an alternative to charity - And have a voice at the provincial level - Support and Endorse the HFS - Remind politicians that VOLUNTEERS ARE VOTERS TOO!! *** PICTURE AND GET PEOPLE TO SIGN CONSENT FORMS FOR HEART AND STROKE 108 PRESENTATIONS TO FAITH GROUPS Slices for Social Justice Presentation of AAA Powerpoint and ISARC Report for York Region, May 19, 2011 **** Presented in Partnership with the Poverty Action for Change Coalition (PACC) president, Tom Pearson who I also co-wrote the ISARC report with. (Flyer included in Presentations Folder on www.yrfn.ca PRESENTATION TO YORK REGION FOOD BANK DIRECTORS PRESENTATION OF AAA PROJECT TO FOOD BANK COORDINATORS IN YR As most of you know, we’ve been involved in the PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN FOR 2 YEARS NOW $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all Adults on Social Assistance in Ontario who receive 60% of what they received in 1995. First step in addressing inadequate rates – next is to index them to cost of living and also maintain the Healthy Food Supplement. In past 2 years over 45 MPPs have been met with. All 7 in YR; many have completed the DO THE MATH SURVEY and average total is $1350. Which is far above $592 0r $1062 on ODSP The awareness is there but the Political Will is not and MPPs say it is due to the fact that even though 1000 took the Do the Math Challenge, over 10,000 people completed the surveys and 30 communities have voiced their interest in the HFS, they still have not heard enough from their constituents the voting Public. YR Council endorsed the Healthy Food Supplement as one recommendation that came from the YR ISARC Social Audit Report in 2010, and have passed along their endorsement to the Minister of C and Social Services and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario So what’s next – getting the public to make it clear to their MPP that this is an important issue and an investment they want the government to make. That is where the ADVOCACY – AWARENESS TO ACTION PROJECT COMES IN Heart and Stroke has provided us funding for this year, and potentially next year, to develop these action steps, to mobilize the community to make this a voting issue and in turn increase the pressure on our MPPs to make this an issue in the election and in the house. Various pieces to this include: A video to demonstrate the impact of poverty/hunger in York region and what our community could be like if we eradicated poverty and focused on building a healthy community Advocacy and Letter Writing Toolkit for individuals and organizations 109 Advocates groups of low-income individuals who are working together to spread the word, bring others on board, encourage civic engagements and write letters to MPPs Teams to visit MPPs to be developed over the summer. An advocacy plan that organizations, groups, programs and individuals can plug into that will involve letter writing campaigns, social marketing strategies, presentations to groups/boards and a media strategy. FocussE d public awareness and action campaigns in coordination with the Ontario Coordinating Committee for the PFIB - Valentines for Dwight Duncan, Municipal Endorsements of the HFS, Volunteer Recruitment around the Food Drive in April – making people aware that there are other things they can do in addition to donations – stickers on bags – pfib url on the bags Which brings me to why I want to speak to you today In terms of Constituent Groups that the Government is more likely to listen to and feel the pressure from, it is the Volunteer Sector in this case, primarily the Volunteer Sector responsible for emergency food in the food banks and meal programs. 25% increase in the provision of meal programs across Ontario alone in 2010 and that is only meal programs associated with known foodbanks. Volunteers have been exploited and dumped on and relied on in a way that is unfair and cannot meet the basic needs of growing numbers of people. This is what I hear from volunteers at numerous programs Volunteers are facing an increased burden as the demand for emergency food increases and donations don’t. How is it that the government has reduced their responsibility for individuals and families – it’s because they have downloaded so much of this responsibility on food banks and meal programs. Mr. Mcguinty will stand proudly by at the launch of the next provincial food drive and talk about the generosity of donors sharing the bounty with the less fortunate and somehow convince himself, not us, that this is OKAY. And GOOD ENOUGH! I ask you as volunteers, coordinators and programs that stand between those who rely on you daily, and the government who is reducing its’ responsibility, to SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE, ENDORSE THE $100/Healthy food supplement, reduce some reliance on your own programs and speak to the need for the government to increase their support of individuals so food banks don’t need to build an even bigger infrastructure to meet the needs of the hungry in this province. You will see an ENDORSEMENT PAGE, a CALL TO ACTION PAGE, and a BACKGROUNDER Please take the steps we’ve outlines, share this with other volunteers, visit the www.putfoodinthebudget.ca site in about a week’s time and add your comments or take the survey that we’re posting there specifically for volunteer and charitable organizations that are holding this whole system together. OTHER PLANS WE HAVE FOR INCREASING OUR ADVOCACY CAPACITY Screening the POOR NO MORE VIDEO on Hunger Awareness Day on May 31, 2011 – Location TBD; additional screenings to be arranged in north and south YR from June onward th Inviting the SPNO to come and present their blueprint for a Poverty Free Ontario on June 7 – likely will be at the th YR Council Chambers 9-12:00 Tuesday June 7 110 PRESENTATIONS TO COMPASS PLANNING TABLES IN VAUGHAN AND RICHMOND HILL Presentation to Together for Maple Planning Table Intro to 25 in 5 Network to reduce poverty by 25% in 5 years in Ontario – collection of anti-poverty organizations along with the Ontario Social Planning Network o Several Strategies are now being employed including a Social Assistance Review to determine the true cost of living in communities across Ontario o 25 in 5 in partnership with the ASSOC OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES launched a provincial campaign for a HEALTHY FOOD SUPPLEMENT - $100 monthly supplement to the basic needs allowance for adults receiving SA. To broaden awareness about the disparity between what people on SA receive to live on and the actual costs of living, the STOP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE in Toronto, an active member of the 25 in 5 network, developed the survey tool called DO THE MATH and that is what we wanted to talk to you about today. DO THE MATH is budget survey that you can do on-line, individually or in groups; essentially you estimate the costs of living as a single person on SA and then put that up against what people actually do receive. We’ve done this with 3 groups now and each time the majority of people are alarmed by the amount of money people are expected to live in versus what it costs for the most basic of needs So we’d like to do a quick group survey with you here today to give you an idea of how it works and also so you can take it back and do it with your own groups. 1) The goal is to have as many people in Ontario complete the survey on line as possible and submit their findings and their comments to the premier 2.) The second goal is to create more public awareness and hopefully support for PUTTING FOOD IN THE BUDGET. 3.) And thirdly, to approach local MPPs to have them do the math and hopefully gain their support for this initiative within their own parties. Ontario wide, communities are mobilizing to DO THE MATH, and York Region was chosen as one of the first 10 communities to work with the OSPN to develop their action plan around this. We met with Peter C. from OSPN for our initial working group meeting yesterday at our office and our next meeting to strategize how to create more media and public awareness in York Region as well as create teams to approach the MPPS in each area th We’d like to invite any of you to join us for our next working team meeting on Tuesday July 14 at 1:30 at 510 Penrose in Newmarket; please sign our sheet if you’d like to be in attendance or be contacted about this ongoing initiative. We are looking for a broad cross section of people working and living in the community across a variety of sectors and ideally the teams that go to meet with local MPPS would have constituents from the individual ridings represented. For follow-up information on the progress being made Ontario wide on poverty reduction you can check out www.povertywatchontario.ca 111 PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SERVICES COMMITTEE AND STAFF GROUPS Presentation to Community and Health Services Committee January 19, 2011 - Resulting in a Recommendation from Community and Health Services Committee to Endorse the ISARC Social Audit Report and the recommendation to implement the $100 HFS. THEMES AND POINTS TO MAKE Thank you for the opportunity to address the Committee Acknowledge and Congratulate York Region Council and Staff on a few initiatives; We know that you are interested in addressing poverty and have shown a commitment to including the Determinants of Health Framework because of the initiatives below. Dignity for all Campaign and Endorsement Transportation ISARC Brief Description of ISARC and Context First Audit in YR since they began in 1986 Why this report stands out from the several others – brings the human face to the harsh realities of poverty - Hunger Report - Hunger Count - Hunger Inquiry - Senate report - All Party Parliamentary Committee Report on Poverty - Campaign 2000 Report on Poverty Provincial Report – Local Findings – YR cited many times in the Provincial publication THEMES AND HIGHLIGHTS – All of which impacts on Health of individuals and the community - Quotes here from ISARC, McKeown, Raphael and the recent Globe and Mail article by Jim Stanford INCOME HOUSING TRANSPORTATION LIMITS OF CHARITY 112 ASKS Advocacy for Adequate income is KEY Income Security is fundamental: Endorse and challenge other municipalities endorse the $100 monthly healthy food supplement, a system for rates that is transparent and reflects the cost of living in Ontario, and to maintain the Special Diet allowance. Strategic Planning and Program Development at the local Level Utilize monies available through savings from uploading of SA costs to the province to implement a comprehensive, holistic poverty reduction/healthy community strategy as well as GTA pooling dollars. Look to other municipalities for models that they have utilized in their planning. Inclusivity and Dignity Recognizing the knowledge and lived experience of people who are marginalized by income and what they can contribute to planning and development of programs, - develop ways to include them in the process at the community level. Draw on the knowledge of front-line staff which possess a wealth of experience and ideas about how to deliver program and service more effectively. Presentation to Staff Development Workshop - Powerpoint Presentation of AAA Project (see first slide below) Complete power point presentation available in Section 7 of Resources and Links The Campaign’s original goal was to raise awareness for an increase to Social Assistance Rates in this province. The $100 Healthy food Supplement was and continues to be our specific request. The Put Food in the Budget Campaign employed several strategies to raise awareness and support in including the Food Bank Diet Challenge and the DO THE MATH BUDGET SURVEY. Our current project is somewhat more global in that it concentrates on the need for creating Healthy Communities, which extends from promoting physical activity for children to implementing an affordable housing strategy for Canada and everything in between. Presentation to OMSSA – June 2011 (Ontario Municipal Social Services Association) At the Invitation of Adelina Urbanski, Commissioner of Community and Health Services with York Region, I attended OMSSA planning meeting on June 16, 2011 and presented the Advocacy work that we were involved in around Food Security from the local level with the AAA Project to the provincial level with the Put Food in the Budget Campaign. 113 ** They were most interested in the Endorsements we were obtaining and continuing to request from Municipal levels of government. Around the table municipal governments were represesnted who had already endorsed the introduction of the $100 HFS and others were interested in ways of leveraging this support in their own local governments among political figures. They shared strategies and applauded the work we’re doing locally in York Region as well as across the province. I presented the power point presentation – PFIB Campaign across the Province and the Social Planning Network’s power point information on Ending Deep Poverty in Ontario – Poverty Free Ontario Campaign. 114 The SPNO’s power point presentation can be found at www.spno.ca Also in AAA Project Files at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ ‘HUMAN DIGNITY FOR ALL: WORKING FOR A POVERTY FREE ONTARIO PRESENTATION IN YORK REGION For Community Discussion UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS Adopted by the United Nations On December 10, 1948 (Draft text prepared by a Canadian law professor John Humphrey) Preamble [first sentence] “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace . . .” Article 25 “ Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself (herself) and of his (her) family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his (her) control.” Poverty is a Violation of Inherent Human Dignity **Presented at Aurora Library on June 2011, by SPNO’s Marvin Novick and Peter Clutterbuck **Hosted by SPNYR and John Taylor – Regional Councillor for Newmarket, ON **Do the Math Working Group and the AAA Project – with YRFN The SPNO’s power point presentation can be found at www.spno.ca Also in AAA Project Files at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ OSSTP (ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ FEDERATION, LOCAL IN NEWMARKET) PRESENTATION ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010 Presentation by Yvonne Kelly and Robin Wardlaw OSSTF PRESENTATION NOVEMBER 29, 2010 I’d like to begin today with a bit of a history/overview of the PFIB Campaign at the provincial level and what we’ve been able to achieve at the local level in York Region. I brought along a number of handouts that I will be referring to, for you to choose from and will leave them here for you to pick up on your way out. 115 I want to thank you for the opportunity to bring this information and campaign to you today and we appreciate why as the Human Rights Committee, you have an interest in our campaign which is essentially a campaign for social justice for the some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in our communities across Ontario. So while the information is important, even more important is the ACTION that follows from that. I was encouraged by Les’s invitation to Robin and I to come and talk about how you might be able to get involved in this effort. So I’d love to use this time to explore some of the ways your committee and membership could work with us to promote this campaign for more adequate incomes and increased food security. Handouts: PFIB Background Joint Statement following 2010 Budget – Health costs of Poverty York Region Fact Sheet Kristine’s Article Copies of ISARC Hunger Report 2010 OSSTF – What we Do? OSSTF/FESSO is a strong, independent, socially active union that promotes and advances the cause of public education and the rights of students, educators and educational workers. While establishing working conditions for its members, OSSTF/FESSO also works to build strong public services, preserve academic freedom, prevent the privatization and commercialization of our educational institutions, ensure that students receive an education free of bias and discrimination and provide an equitable opportunity for all students to succeed in a strong, wellfunded public education system. Communications and Political Action The Communications and Political Action Department is responsible for political issues such as equity and diversity, social justice, status of women, and international assistance. The department oversees lobbying and communications with members and the media. It is also responsible for the publishing Update, a monthly newsletter for all members, and Education Forum, a periodical issued three times per year. Background to the PFIB Campaign and Healthy Food Supplement – A quick 2 year History PFIB Campaign grew out of the 25 in 5 Network aimed at reducing poverty by 25% in 5 years. December 2008: Province makes commitment to Poverty Reduction aimed mainly at children. January 2009 – Healthy Food Supplement is born – PFIB Campaign March 2009 Budget – No real measures to eradicate poverty or increase SA levels or include the HFS PFIB and HFS supported by ALPHA (Association of local Public Health Agencies) since its inception as well as by Social Planning Network of Ontario Also endorsed by the Ontario Public Health Association April 2009 – STOP Community Food Centre develops the Do the Math Survey Tool; approximately 9,000 people to date have completed the survey in Ontario 116 April 2009 – MAY 2010: 40 MPPs visited across Ontario to have them complete the Do the Math Survey Tool; 7 are located in YR April 2010 – Eat the Math Challenge in Toronto th October 4-8 – Do the Math Challenge in 18 communities across Ontario (over 1,000 people have now taken the Challenge – 12 in YR alone) Goals and asks of the PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET Campaign: Immediate implementation of the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance, as a down payment towards the necessary increases to bring social assistance into line with real costs of living. Establishing a transparent mechanism for the increase of rates that enables them to be indexed to the actual costs of living in Ontario. At present, a client on SA in Ontario receives $585/month as opposed to pre-1995 when he/she would have received $640. Their purchasing power in real terms is equivalent to that in 1967. Maintain the Special Diet allowance at the current funding levels as a place to start. Do the Math Survey – Complete the Exercise or go over it with people Objectives of the PFIB Provincial Do the Math Challenge are: Increase understanding of the experiences of people who rely on social Assistance Raise awareness that charity is not enough – that the experiences of people on social assistance is systemic not individual – and that policy change and social investments are required of the Ontario government. Translate public empathy into public action – for people to talk to their MPPs about supporting an immediate increase in social assistance of $100 per month for every adult in Ontario on social assistance. Successes of the Provincial Challenge – over 1,000 people have now done the Challenge and approximately 9,000 have completed the Survey. Next Step for PFIB: - - - Invite other campaigns and groups working to reduce poverty to join together in an act of solidarity in the coming months, to present a clear picture to the province of the critical mass that is mobilizing and expecting a real commitment to reduce poverty in Ontario – holding the government accountable to its promise to reduce child poverty by 25% over five years. Continuing to seek provincial partners, groups, professional associations, corporate and union alliances that are willing to actively advocate with the government for the HFS and increased overall rates for SA, both ODSP and OW. One of the things this campaign has been very successful in doing is staying focussed on strategies that work and broadening our base of support around the province by including people from all sectors in the initiatives – Do the Math Survey and MPP advocacy as well as the Take the Math Challenge. We will continue to build on these successes and create a critical mass of people who are aware of the issues at stake, many of whom were likely not aware a few weeks or months ago. 117 - - One example is the coordinated support that we have gained from the Health Sector at all levels, including numerous of professional and public associations and foundations focussed on disease prevention and awareness. It would be a logical next step to build more connections with the Education Sector and be able to make the case for income and food security from this vantage point. At the provincial level we are also working to gain more support from unions across the board given the social justice and human rights issues at play here. Poor No More Film Presentations Georgina Town Council Building – on Hunger Awareness Day June 1, 2011 Newmarket Crosslands Church Theatre Richmond Hill Library We held presentations in three areas of York Region. About 20 people in attendance in Georgina, 31 in Richmond Hill and 40 in Newmarket. This was a good opportunity to talk about the AAA Project, get people involved and let them know that our own Video would be coming out shortly – “It’s Not Too Late to Change the World” DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AFTER THE FILM 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) What is your initial response to the film? What surprised you? Or what did you Learn? What do you think it’s important for us to learn from this? What do you think we can do with this information or how could it be used in our communities? How important do you think it will be for poverty to be an issue on the agenda during the provincial election and how would we make that happen as individuals or as a group? 6.) Why do you think some people feel change is out of our hands? 7.) Possible ways to get involved. Advocates group or training, Writing a letter to MPP, Join a Team to visit MPP, Endorse the HFS, speak to your Board of Directors about writing for our 100 letters for $100 campaign, come out on JUNE 7th, write a letter to your editor. PRESENTATIONS IN THE YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill – we were invited to present on the prevalence of poverty close to home and the links between poverty and poor health to 2 Grade 12 Nutrition and Health Sciences Classes. Three of us as Advocates for AAA presented together and developed a new power point presentation geared towards students. Also one advocate produced a vocabulary sheet to be used by students to familiarize them about the terms used when talking about poverty and its consequences. We titled our presentation: POVERTY IN OUR OWN BACKYARD 118 Huron Heights Secondary School in Newmarket – We were invited to speak to a Grade 10 Civics Class after one of our Advocates sons who attends this class wanted to do a presentation on poverty in Ontario, more specifically YR. The teacher had difficulties with this because he had been teaching that poverty in Canada is rare and in YR, nonexistent. Gregory knew a great deal more about the subject, living in challenging financial circumstances for most of his young life and also having a mother who is likely the most active parent advocate for people living in poverty that we all know in YR. She just happens to be on our own Do the Math Working Group for YR and co-chairs the Poverty Action for Change Coalition. To the teacher’s credit, he was able to see beyond his ideas when challenged appropriately, he gave Greg permission to do his presentation on poverty in our own country and locally, and went another step further to invite Kristine, Greg’s mother to come to his class and make a presentation in the near future. Kristine, Rita and I will likely do it together having had such a great experience working with the staff and students at Bayview weeks before. Poverty in our Own Backyard Topics to Be Covered in Discussion 1.) Myths about Poverty – What do you think? 2.) What Poverty Looks like in a Wealthy country 3.) Connection Between Poverty and Poor Health 4.) Experience of Poverty – The Diet Challenge 5.) We can all play a part - Video: It’s Not Too Late to Change the World - Brainstorm – Get ideas – Ways that students can Take Action!! - Homework: Complete the Do the Math Budget Survey and bring back to class. PRESENTATION TO THE OCCUPY NEWMARKET GROUP – Founded in November 2011 We Presented the Video – It’s not Too Late to Change the World, discussed some of the actions the group could take to create healthy communities and advocate for attention to the social determinants of health, and also poverty, such as income, housing, etc. Group – Endorsed the Put Food in the Budget Campaign Individuals – endorsed and signed pledges to that effect Further Action – more discussion to follow as to how the group can address poverty locally and look at the broader issues. REPORTS AND SUBMISSIONS 119 ISARC SOCIAL AUDIT IN YORK REGION APRIL 20, 2010 AND RESULTING REPORT The ISARC Social Audit The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) Social Audits have been happening across Ontario since 1986. Until now, York Region has not participated in the Social Audit, but this year was a different story. Members of the Do the Math Working Group and the Poverty Action Coalition for Change (PACC) group were very much interested in York Region being chosen as one of the Ontario communities in which the Social Audit would take place. Discussions to this effect had taken place but the question had not been put to ISARC directly. That is until one December day in Hamilton at a provincial meeting of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign (PFIB) which several of us from York Region attended. Mark Sussman, an active member of PACC, approached Bruce Balmer from ISARC and invited ISARC to hold the first-ever Social Audit in our region. The invitation was accepted and as a result, we began planning for the Social Audit in January 2010. While other communities, many of whom had done the audits before, were well underway in terms of planning, we were just beginning our process in the early weeks of January. The task seemed enormous (3 months to plan) but not impossible given the amount of enthusiasm that we were about to experience as an energetic, optimistic, and hard working group of people came together from across the region to form the Social Audit Planning Table for York Region. Thanks to PACC as the host for the Audit, and Mark in particular for asking the important question, we moved forward and held a very successful Social Audit on April 20. A little bit about ISARC… The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) is a provincial network of faith groups working together for greater social justice. 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. ISARC brings together representatives and members of faith groups to discuss the root causes of poverty, addressing issues of hunger and homelessness in Ontario. ISARC meets and works with leaders from all political parties to support and develop legislation that will provide help to those most in need. The findings and stories from each local audit is compiled into the provincial audit, a comprehensive publication that reflects the voices of low-income people across Ontario. It is then used as an advocacy and education tool to mobilize communities and influence policy. Check out the ISARC website for ongoing updates, events and policy direction: www.isarc.ca The Results… We were extremely fortunate to have three very well respected individuals serve as Rapporteurs for the Social Audit Day. The Rapporteurs were present and listened when individuals shared their experiences; their reflections on what they heard that day become an important part of the final report. John Rogers, former mayor of Georgina and member of YR Council, as well as Past Chair of the United Way of YR; Daisy Wai, a successful business woman who is involved in numerous community initiatives and serves on several community boards; and Charles Beer, who spent 23 years serving in the Ontario government in numerous capacities, including as Minister of Community and Social Services, and is a current member of a number of boards related to health and education. Our goal had been to hear the stories of 24 individuals at two locations in the north and south ends of the region – one in Richmond Hill and one in Newmarket. On the day of the Audit, we heard the stories of 23 individuals and we were limited only by time as more people came out to talk about their experiences in poverty. We also made 120 provision at the Newmarket location for individuals to videotape their statements in private, and 11 people chose that option. Our focus groups were very well attended. 11 Councillors and one Mayor attended the Politicians Focus Group which was facilitated by Danieli Zanotti, CEO of United Way York Region. We had 24 people express interest in the Focus Group for Front-Line and Agency Workers, so we held 2 focus groups. Our dinner at the end of the day was an opportunity for organizers of the event, rapporteurs, recorders, facilitators and convenors, along with several participants, to reflect back on the day, how it impacted on them, and what we each learned from the experience. Over 20 people came together to share a meal and express their thoughts and feelings. It was a moving experience for those involved and an important part of the ISARC process of taking collective action and responsibility. To quote from ISARC: “When anyone is hungry while others have too much to eat, when anyone has no shelter while others live in luxury, or when anyone lives in poverty while others enjoy affluence, justice is not present. Where justice is not present, the quality of all of our lives and communities disappears. ISARC believes that justice is the mutual responsibility of individuals, communities, and government working together for a better future.” The Report of our Local Social Audit Experience in York Region will be utilized to mobilize and advocate for change at the local and provincial levels for timely, humane and necessary measures that reflect social justice for all. “BEHIND THE MASKS” - Testimonials from Those Marginalized by Income http://www.yrfn.ca/pdf/ISARC%20Report%20September%20Final.pdf YORK REGION SUBMISSION Re: The ISARC Social Audit Report from York Region and Recommendations including the Implementation of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement York Region Endorsement of the ISARC Social Audit conducted in York Region in April 2010 (sent to Premier and provincial Ministers – February 2011) 121 122 123 YORK REGION COUNCIL SUBMISSIONS RE: SOCIAL ASSISTANCE REVIEW COMMISSION York Region Submission to the Social Assistance Review Comissioners in Response to their Input Paper released in summer of 2011 Chair Fisch, on behalf of the Region directed their response to the Input Paper released by the SAR Commissioners in the summber of 2011. You can find the full report as well as his letter which again identifies the YR ISARC Social Audit report as an important document substantiating the needs in YR. - Please find the complete letter and Submission to the Paper at www.yrfn.ca or in the It’s Not too Late to Change the World E-booklet soon to be released York Region Invitation to hold a public consultation in York Region following from the release of their Consult Paper in Jan/Feb. 2012 You can find a copy of this invitation at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ The invitation at this time, looks like it will be resulting in a consultation in YR and we are meeting with the Region on Friday February 10th to plan for that. RESOURCES AND LINKS ECONOMY AND POVERTY How paying people’s way out of poverty can help us all Posted on May 7, 2011 in Inclusion Delivery System Source: Globe & Mail — Authors: Anna Mehler Paperny, Tavia Grant TheGlobeandMail.com – news/politics Published Thursday, May. 05, 2011 Last updated, May. 06, 2011. Anna Mehler Paperny And Tavia Grant Behind corridors lined with contemporary Canadian art, sitting at a dark wooden table in his downtown Toronto office, Ed Clark offers some economic advice that might not typically come from Bay Street. 124 Give the poor a tax break. “I say, ‘Why don’t you cut the taxes of the most overtaxed people?’ It isn’t Ed Clark,” the Toronto-Dominion Bank CEO said in an interview earlier this year. “It’s the people at the low end, because they face the highest marginal tax rates.” It may seem an uncommon prescription in his neck of the woods. But there’s an increasing awareness, among even the country’s most wealthy, that poverty reaches beyond the tables of the hungry and digs into their own pocketbooks. When people are poor, out of work or homeless, it hurts the bottom line of all Canadians. And as the country struggles to maintain a shaky recovery amid growing global economic uncertainty, that’s not a hit they can afford to take. If Ottawa and the provinces fail to make this a priority, Tory Senator Hugh Segal predicts, “over time, we will begin to run out of the money that we need to deal with the demographic bulge because it will be consumed in the health care requirements of the poor, which will increase. It will be consumed in the costs of the illiteracy and unemployment which relate to poverty. … And it’ll be unsustainable.” It’s not just Canada’s problem: Income inequality is sparking social unrest in the Middle East, North Africa and China. It rang alarm bells at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s conference in Paris this week, where the think tank warned that if a slew of countries – from Sweden to Canada to the United Kingdom – don’t take drastic action by raising taxes for the richest, they risk runaway increases in inequality. That growing polarization hasn’t been lost on Canada’s neighbor to the south: In unveiling his deficit-cutting plan last month, U.S. President Barack Obama included significant tax increases for America’s richest. Canada’s polarized 41st Parliament reflects the country’s growing income gap. And Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s success in this election hinged in large part on his ability to play off fears of unstable prosperity. Now, these 308 denizens of a redrawn House of Commons have their work cut out for them: Mind the income gap, or pay the economic penalty. It’s already on the radar of some provinces: One of Christy Clark’s first actions as B.C. Premier was to raise the province’s minimum wage for the first time in a decade and offer a tax cut for low-income families. Ontario has launched a sweeping review of social assistance programs that Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur has admitted are failing the province’s neediest. “It’s not in our interest to have a mortgage-holder foreclose,” said Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancouver-based VanCity credit union. “The way we do business affects the economy not only in terms of profitability,” she said, “but … how able the people who use our services are to continue to do that in the future.” The problem: True North, polarized Despite Canada’s reputation for a strong social safety net, the country is becoming economically polarized. And the decades-old dominant economic dogma that growing wealth among society’s highest earners would trickle down 125 to those less fortunate is being challenged by an alternative approach: Eliminate crushing poverty among the lowest earners, and wealth will trickle up. As the incomes of the country’s top earners have risen, the incomes of Canada’s lower- and middle-income earners have stagnated. The recession widened the chasm, and a subsequent recovery hasn’t closed it. While economic slumps tend to hurt those already vulnerable, this one has been especially deep and especially unequal in who recovers: On paper, almost as many jobs have been added as were lost during the financial crisis. But they offer fewer hours and less pay – and some of the hardest-hit sectors aren’t coming back. Food bank use hit a record high in 2010. Tellingly, more of the people using those food banks have jobs – they just don’t make enough to pay the bills or feed their families. The ranks of the working poor have swelled as minimum wages fail to keep pace with rising costs and social assistance levels drop. “The economy took a hit and then is coming back up,” TD’s Mr. Clark said. “But what Canada’s economy will look like coming out of this is different than when we were coming in to it. The result of the shift in world economic conditions … all means that the skill sets you need are shifting. Globalization is good for the world as a whole, but its benefits are not equally distributed.” Shifting economy, beleaguered workforce Tony Masciotra is diversifying himself. The Argentine-Canadian father of two went back to school immediately after being laid off from his tool and die job at Ford Motor Co. in Windsor three years ago. No luck. “I have records of over 100 jobs I have applied for,” he said. “I have looked really hard. … But I haven’t been able to get a job yet. “Windsor,” he noted, “has been a really tough market for trying to secure a job.” Thanks to his wife’s part-time income as a cashier at Shoppers Drug Mart, they’re doing okay. At 11 and nine, he said, children Julia and Dante – “yeah, like Alighieri” – are old enough to know not to ask for extras. But “the hardest part, for me, is telling the kids ‘No’ sometimes. “We haven’t missed a day. The bills are paid, we have food and shelter. But we haven’t made any gains. We haven’t improved in any way,” he said. “This is not sustainable, the way we’re living. … We definitely need to secure a job. Now.” Mr. Masciotra is part of a growing group of skilled labourers on the brink. The métiers in which they’ve worked for years are no longer economically viable: Many well-paying blue-collar jobs are being replaced by minimum-wage, service-sector ones. And that’s causing significant shifts on both sides of the border, notes MIT economist David Autor. 126 It gets more complicated, and more economically detrimental, if the people who’ve lost jobs aren’t the ones being hired to new ones. They enter what Robin Somerville of the Centre for Spatial Economics calls “structural unemployment.” And if they leave the workforce entirely, they fall off the radar of unemployment stats: The numbers look better precisely because they’re worse. That’s what’s happening now. While unemployment is dropping, the proportion of the population with jobs hasn’t risen. The drop is even more significant because more Canadians are putting off retirement. That should mean more people in the workforce. But it doesn’t: So many younger workers are dropping out entirely that they outweigh the older ones sticking around longer. Mr. Somerville predicts it will take a decade, “or perhaps much, much longer,” to regain that 2 per cent. In the meantime, factor in hits to productivity, GDP and consumer spending. “If you’re losing opportunities in some areas, and you’re not replacing them with opportunities of equal or greater value, then the overall level of income in the economy is reduced. And the ability of people to go out and buy goods and services is reduced.” The ripple effects: How homelessness hurts your bottom line From TransAlta CEO Stephen Snyder’s office in a gentrifying downtown Calgary neighbourhood, you can look out and see the trendy Hotel Arts and Saint Germain restaurant – and, kitty-corner, a cluster of under-resourced and overflowing emergency shelters and drop-in programs. Boomtown Calgary, which for years led Canadian cities in economic growth, also had the dubious distinction of having the country’s fastest-growing homeless population – a 30-per-cent increase in two years. Homelessness costs taxpayers money – in both foregone wealth and social service spending. As evidence of the social and financial costs of inequality mounts, a growing body of research indicates paying to get people out of poverty can be an economic boon. Calgary’s business community crunched the numbers: It costs four times more to pay for a year’s worth of emergency shelter, emergency-room medical care and law-enforcement for one homeless person than it costs to fund that person’s supportive housing for a year. More recent figures have backed them up when it comes to the costs of poverty: A study earlier this year from Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital found homeless patients cost hospitals an average of $2,559 more than their housed counterparts. At the same time, research into projects that guaranteed people a minimum annual income indicated savings in everything from social services and health care to law enforcement. Some see a solution in a 40-year-old experiment: In the 1970s, Manitoba wanted to see what would happen if it guaranteed poor people in a few communities a set annual income. The results are striking, said University of Manitoba professor Evelyn Forget, who’s now studying the program’s effects. 127 The philosophy behind this is simple: People are more likely to stay in school, out of emergency rooms and out of jail; they contribute to the economy through their purchases; they’re more likely to move eventually above the poverty line and pay taxes. For years, Senator Segal has been campaigning for the country to implement something similar – replacing welfare programs by giving a top-up to bring low-income families above the poverty line. The issue came to the fore in last month’s election campaign, kind of: The parties squared off on a guaranteed income program for low-income seniors. The irony is that Canada already scores high compared to other OECD countries when it comes to helping the elderly. Where it falls short is where it matters: The working-age poor – the ones who should be contributing to the economy. “With respect to working-age poverty, our numbers are really bad,” Mr. Segal said. “And that’s where we need to do more.” “I don’t think we should underestimate the uneven effect of this recession,” said Anne Golden, CEO of the Conference Board of Canada. “The gap is growing. If the gap gets too big, that affects the quality of life for all of us.” By the numbers $134,000 Estimated amount for emergency shelter, emergency hospital care, law enforcement and other social services for one homeless person in Calgary, for one year $34,000 Estimated cost to proide supportive housing for one person in Calgary, for one year $12,555 Average cost of hospital stay for non-homeless patient at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto $15,114 Average cost of hospital stay for homeless patient at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto Also…. @ http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ Working Better: Creating a High--Performing Labour Market in Ontario By Tom Zizys 128 EQUITY AND INCOME – THE GROWING GAP 129 Also … @ www.yrfn.ca The Canada We Want – 2020: Reducing Income Disparities and Polarization 130 HEALTH INDICATORS AND LINKS TO POVERTY Poverty Is Making Us Sick – Lightman and Mitchell Poverty making us sick, raising incomes best prescription December 2, 2008 Contrary to some popular beliefs, poverty is making Canadians sick – not simply lifestyle choices – robbing hundreds of thousands of their health and leading to widespread preventable illness and creating huge costs for the health care system. This is the conclusion of powerful new tipping-point research released today by the Wellesley Institute and the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto. For the first time, the study uses Canadian Community Health Survey and income files to paint the most comprehensive picture to date of our nation’s health. “High income does not guarantee good health, but low income almost inevitably ensures poor health and significant health inequity in Canada,” reports Dr. Ernie Lightman, lead researcher for the new study. Poverty is triggering a devastating health crisis among lower-income people, but the research shows that raising incomes leads to better health. “This important new research establishes in the most complete way the strong link between low income and poor health,” says Rick Blickstead, CEO of the Wellesley Institute, which co-sponsored the study. “Prof. Lightman and his colleagues have demonstrated that health equity is truly an issue of national significance. The results confirm for the first time that relatively small increases in incomes of poor Canadians will lead to substantial increases in their health.” The researchers from the Social Assistance in the New Economy (SANE) program at the University of Toronto used the most recent health data. But decision makers may erroneously believe that the global economic tsunami washing over Canada makes alleviating growing poverty and income inequality too expensive, and that threatens to make an already bad situation even worse. The latest findings demonstrate that policy-makers cannot ignore the growing costs of poverty because the costs are relatively smaller than the cost of neglect. Using sophisticated multivariate analysis, the researchers demonstrate that every $1,000 increase in income leads to substantial increases in health. For instance, an annual increase of $1,000 in income for the poorest twenty percent of Canadians will lead to nearly 10,000 fewer chronic conditions, and 6,600 fewer disability days every two weeks. Prof. Lightman and his research colleagues, Andrew Mitchell and Beth Wilson, found that the poorest one-fifth of Canadians, when compared to the richest twenty percent, has: - more than double the rate of diabetes and heart disease; a sixty percent greater rate of two or more chronic health conditions; more than three times the rate of bronchitis; nearly double the rate of arthritis or rheumatism. The poorest fifth of Canada’s population face a staggering 358% higher rate of disability compared to the richest fifth. The poor experience major health inequality in many other areas, including 128% more mental and behavioral disorders; 95% more ulcers; 63% more chronic conditions; and 33% more circulatory conditions. HEALTH STATUS INDICATORS REPORT Available at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ HUNGER AND POVERTY IN ONTARIO AND CANADA The Following Reports are Available at….. http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ 131 2011 HUNGERCOUNT Food Banks Canada A comprehensive report on hunger and food bank use in Canada, and recommendations for change Running on Empty – A Decade of Hunger in Ontario Report of the Ontario Association of Food Banks – March 2011 11 POVERTY IN YORK REGION Number of people needing aid rises Part 1 of 2: Growing demand Growing demand. Stephen Bradford of The Krasman Centre says requests for aid from his organization have been up by 5 per cent. Steve Somerville UP NEXT Part 2: Jan. 12: Solutions: How our social service providers plan to meet the challenges, what societal factors need to be addressed, what the region can and is doing to help WANT MORE? • Krasman Centre, 905-780-0491, 1-888-780-0724 or krasmancentre.com • Women’s Centre of York Region, 905-853-9270, 1-855-853-9270, [email protected] or womenscentreyorkregion.com • York Region Children’s Aid Society, 905-895-2318, 1-800-718-3850 or yorkcas.on.ca 132 • Poverty Action For Change Coalition, 905-836-793, [email protected] or povertyacc.com • Social Services Network, 905-940-7864, [email protected] or socialservicesnetwork.org • United Way of York Region, 905-474-9974, [email protected] or york.unitedway.ca • Blue Door Shelters, 905-898-1015, 1-888-554-5525 or bluedoorshelters.ca Whether by fate or folly, people suffer in York Region. More than 10 per cent live in poverty. About 14 per cent have some form of disability. One in three is, or will be, reliant on some form of charitable assistance. Queues for subsidized housing and food banks lengthen daily. Our diverse population propagates and ages. The pressure on our social service providers is monumental. Our non-profits’ only guarantee in 2012 is demand for their brand of hope, help and humanity will grow. Requests for services are up by 5 per cent from last year at Richmond Hill’s Krasman Centre, executive director Stephen Bradford said. The centre, dedicated to helping people with direct personal experience of mental health extremes and homelessness, welcomes up to 40 people to its drop-in and receives about 30 calls to its warm-line daily. The many challenges for people living with mental health and addiction issues drive clients to the Yonge Street storefront, he said. “That, and the continued presence of stigma in our society toward people affected by mental health issues,” Mr. Bradford said. Difficulties in overcoming poverty, housing and employment challenges also contribute, he said. Client volume expanded in 2011 for The Women’s Centre of York Region, executive director Kirsten Eastwood said. “Demand has certainly grown over the year, especially in the fall, when the weather got colder and as we got closer to Christmas, often a very stressful time for our clients,” she said of the services for women who have experienced violence, significant financial insecurity or both. The organization’s varied programs, from counselling to assessments and the enterprising business incubator, all have waiting lists. “The economy is still very much a factor for our clients,” Ms Eastwood said, citing low-paying employment, increased cost of living, limited access to affordable housing supports and increased utility and transit costs. Frontline United Way of York Region programs reported a 40-per-cent increase in the number of new people knocking on their doors for assistance in 2010, senior communications manager Adriana Suppa said. Continued economic uncertainty, higher unemployment, precarious employment, lack of affordable housing, breathtaking growth across the region and not enough social infrastructure to support growing need drove the numbers. United Way-funded programs supported more than 275,000 people, roughly 1 in 3 residents, Ms Suppa said. Investigations by the York Region Children’s Aid Society into concerns regarding abuse and neglect are up by 8 per cent compared to the previous year, executive director Patrick Lake said. In 2011, the agency received more than 10,000 calls, with almost half requiring a full investigation. About 800 families receive ongoing protection services and 475 children are in foster or group care at any given time. Mr. Lake identified two factors — the continued economic downturn and the region’s population growth — for the spike in need. Changing demographics, the need for culturally appropriate services and increased awareness about the Social Services Network attracted more than 1,200 clients to the Markham-based agency in 2011, executive director Dr. Naila Butt said. The network serves the widely diverse South Asian community that represents numerous cultures, languages and faith groups. Programs range from cultural preservation and settlement to seniors and youth. The network partnered with various agencies, including York Regional Police, to host the family violence conference, an investigation into stemming abuse. Blue Door Shelters operates three emergency facilities in York Region. With a fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, executive director Patti Bell projects service for 25,833 people who are homeless. “In the first eight months of this fiscal year alone, we did not have space for 1,016 people who contacted us directly in need of emergency shelter,” she said. “If this trend continues, it will mean a 40-per-cent increase in direct requests for shelter that we are unable to meet.” A growing number of families and individuals face an 133 increasing gap between their income and the high cost of living in York Region, Ms Bell said. “Residents face very challenging circumstances: job loss, eviction, family breakdown and health issues, just to name a few,” she said. “We have the lowest proportion of rental housing in the GTA coupled with some of the highest rents, while the wait list for social housing is exceptionally high.” The Poverty Action For Change Coalition’s mandate is to raise community awareness of poverty and the income security issues facing marginalized York Region residents through research, public education and initiatives that effect change, chairperson Tom Pearson said. The demand for coalition services has increased dramatically in the past few years, he said. “We have been hearing from people right across the region and beyond and an increasing number of seniors,” Mr. Pearson said. “In the past, we’d field a few inquiries a month regarding an issue, whether that be where they can access help with a landlord-tenant dispute or advice on accessing food or programs after they’ve exhausted the avenues our social programs and charities provide.” Inflation has outstripped wages and welfare rates, he said. A few days before Christmas, a woman came to Mr. Pearson in need of diapers for her child. The transit strike limited her mobility and she had run out of funds. She was noticeably embarrassed. “That sums it up,” he said. “We should all be embarrassed.’ York Region Fact Sheet – 2010 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO - DO THE MATH IN YORK REGION?? As hard as it is to believe, many people in York Region are suffering chronic food insecurity.(*) For some, choosing between eating and paying bills is an ongoing daily struggle. There is a growing gap between those who have and those who don’t have the means to live in York Region. Although the median income York Region in 2006 was reported at $89,099 the 5th highest in Canada, the proportion of people living below the Poverty Line increased from 1013% from 2001 – 20066 In 2006, 15% of York Region children under 18 (32,477) lived in low income households – an increase of 62% over 20017 Food bank use increased 29% in January to April 2009, over the same period in 2008 (York Region Food Network – Foodbank Statistics 2008-2009) Monthly Caseload for OW recipients in York Region rose to over 5,000 in Jan-April 2009, an 11% increase over Dec. /08. (Report #5 Community Services and Housing Committee- York Region Council Meeting June 25, 2009) Monthly Caseload for ODSP recipients in York Region in June /08 was 7,667. This represents a cumulative increase of 52.4% from June /02, outpacing all other GTA municipalities and the provincial average for this same period. (Peel Region ODSP- 2009 Budget Document) 6 7 Statistics Canada 2006 Census Statistics Canada 2006 Census 134 THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING AND THE LIMITED SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO POVERTY IN YORK REGION. Households are considered to have affordability problems if more than 30% of household income is spent on housing costs. (Health Status Indicators Report – Public Health, York Region Community and Health Services Dept. 2007) In York Region, 48% of renters (15,482) and 27% of homeowners spend 30% or more of their total income on housing costs – the highest in the GTA8 If you spend more than 50% of your gross income on housing (rent, electricity, heat and municipal services), then you are at a higher risk of homelessness. You are also at significant risk of experiencing chronic illness, depression, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Over 22% of tenants in York, spend more than half of their income on rent.9 People who access food banks spend on average, 60% of their total income on housing (Hunger in the Midst of Prosperity Report, YRFN 2008) In a review of 22 rental markets in Ontario, the highest rent increases over the last 10 years took place in York Region. Rents increased by a rate of 60% the rate of inflation10 THE RESULTS: - INSUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES. - SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISKS AND THE COSTS THAT ACCOMPANY THEM. It’s definitely time to - DO THE MATH IN YORK REGION “Do the Math” is a survey tool developed with input by The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto and is being done across the province by the Social Planning Network of Ontario. By doing the math you can see that eating healthily or at all, can be an extreme challenge for someone on social assistance. To address this disparity we are encouraging support for a $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement for individuals on social assistance. So Do the Math with us, and see for yourself. www.putfoodinthebudget.ca 8 2006 Census: Where’s Home?2008 Ontario Non Profit Housing Association( ONPHA) and Cooperative Housing Federation (CHF) 9 Ibid 10 Ibid (*) Food Security: Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. (Agriculture and Agrifood Canada. Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security: A Response to the World Food Summit) 135 MUNICIPALITIES AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR POVERTY OMMSA – Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Municipal Innovations in Poverty Reduction June 5-8, 2011 London Convention Centre, London, OntarioO ENIN PLENARY: SHORT-TERM THINKING IS KILLING PROSPECTS OF REDUCING VERTY Market forces alone will not reduce poverty. Indeed the modern competitive, globalized economy is raising the economic premium for education and the discount for not having it. The result is widening income disparities in most developed nations including Canada. Action that could alleviate poverty is too often viewed as a current fiscal pressure. The mindset needs to shift to thinking of poverty alleviation as a longer-term investment. Speaker: Don Drummond, retired Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group Full Report Available at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action\ __________________________________________________ MSSA BUILDING CAPACITY AND ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE Ending Poverty in Ontario: Building Capacity and Organizing for Change A Workshop for Engaging Low Income People Spring 2008 A joint project of Campaign 2000 and ISAC The Income Security Advocacy Centre END CHILD & FAMILY POVERTY IN CANADA Election taught painful lessons to anti-poverty groups They aren’t ready to hear this, but the anti-poverty advocates who lobby tirelessly on behalf of low-income Canadians, need to ask why so many of them voted for Stephen Harper. 136 They won’t like the answers they get. They won’t understand how food bank users and social housing tenants could believe the Conservative Prime Minister is on their side. They’ll be tempted to interrupt, object or argue that voters were manipulated, rather than listening. That would be counterproductive. There is an obvious gap in their knowledge. Left unaddressed, it will undermine them in next fall’s provincial election campaign, the same way it did in last week and seven months ago when Rob Ford won Toronto’s mayoral race. It would be easy to explain away Harper’s victory. The Conservatives benefited from the orange wave that spilled into Ontario from Quebec, splitting the left-wing vote between the New Democrats and Liberals. That allowed Harper to pick up 22 seats in the province, 18 of them in the Toronto Area. He had the active support of Toronto’s mayor and his team. He used smear tactics and scaremongering to undermine his opponents. Likewise it would be easy to keep speaking to the converted, hoping the government will get the message. Although Harper has announced his priorities — which don’t include poverty reduction — anti-poverty groups are already writing and circulating articles that bolter their case. But neither rationalization nor willful blindness will do them much good as they prepare for the next electoral showdown. Tim Hudak, who leads the ascendant Ontario Conservatives, takes his tactics from the same playbook as Harper and Ford. After being sidelined by right-wing leaders federally and municipally, anti-poverty campaigners need to figure out why these politicians are connecting with voters — especially low-income voters — and how to counteract their tactics. My soundings are limited and anecdotal, but a few themes keep popping up: People in high-crime neighbourhoods (which are nearly always poor) are the biggest victims of the drug dealers and violent young offenders Harper is promising to lock up. They want relief from the fear and violence they can’t escape. They want to rid their communities of the gangs that lure their children into gun-and-gang culture. Cracking down on crime makes sense to them. What low-income voters want most are jobs; not government programs, not abstract poverty-reduction plans, certainly not hand-outs. Harper tapped into that yearning, promising to stabilize the economy and create employment. People struggling to make ends resent seeing secure middle-class bureaucrats get pay increases. Those scraping by with two or three low-wage, precarious jobs take offence when public employees earning far more than they ever will are rewarded for what they regard as easy work. Those receiving public assistance — employment insurance, welfare, old age security — dislike being treated with contempt by imperious government officials. Cutting the public payroll appeals to them. Canadians fighting to stay afloat often have little regard for the anti-poverty organizers, professors and social planners who purport to represent them. They don’t like their presumption and don’t share their political philosophy. Like the rest of the populace, low-income voters mistrust all politicians. They don’t believe their promises and they don’t pay much attention to their rhetoric. Many don’t cast ballots. Those who do tend to back politicians who speak in plain language about issue that matters to them. 137 Some of these signals are contradictory. Some are counter-intuitive. But they suggest the anti-poverty movement is out-of-step with its assumed followers. And they challenge its leaders to take a painfully honest look at themselves and their vision. These are hard lessons. They will require openness and humility. But the alternative is increasing irrelevance. Carol Goar is a columnist with Torstar news services. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH The Canadian Facts – by Mikkonen and Raphael www.thecanadianfacts.org Can be found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Summary of the Canadian Facts - Overview “The primary factors that shape the health of Canadians are not medical treatments or lifestyle choices but rather the living conditions they experience. These conditions have come to be known as the social determinants of health. This information – based on decades of research and hundreds of studies in Canada and elsewhere – is unfamiliar to most Canadians. Canadians are largely unaware that our health is shaped by how income and wealth is distributed, whether or not we are employed and if so, the working conditions we experience. Our health is also determined by the health and social services we receive, and our ability to obtain quality education, food and housing, among other factors. And contrary to the assumption that Canadians have personal control over these factors, in most cases these living conditions are – for better or worse – imposed upon us by the quality of the communities, housing situations, work settings, health and social service agencies, and educational institutions with which we interact. Improving the health of Canadians requires we think about health and its determinants in a more sophisticated manner than has been the case to date. A New Way to Talk about the Determinants of Health – Robert J. Wood Foundation Complete Document found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ 138 It turns out that trying to figure out how to say something simply can be a complicated process. Each of us has developed our own set of beliefs and values. As we listen and learn new concepts, we try to fit what we hear into these existing frames. And because many of our beliefs are so deeply held, it means that even the most seemingly innocuous terms can be laden with meaning. This was an invaluable research based document that we relied on to assist us in framing our messages and the script for the AAA Video, accompanying power point presentations and discussion tools. We used it extensively in our training and discussions about how we proceed to talk about poverty, the social determinants of health and creating healthier communities, in ways that engage our listeners and the larger public audience that we are trying to reach. A great tool for equipping everyone wanting to work to create healthier communities and achieve social justice in our time. Health Messaging and Language for our Video Our core message emphasized “new pathways for improved health that recognize the integral relationship between our health and where and how we live, learn, work and play.” More importantly, the research identified ways to frame our messages about health differences that would resonate across the political spectrum. How do we find a common language that will expand Americans’ views about what it means to be healthy—to include not just where health ends but also where it starts? If we can answer this question, we can pave the way for more solutions that address this critical link between our health and where we live, learn, work and play. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and at universities around the country have shown that the conditions in which people live and work have more than five times the effect on our health than all the errors doctors and hospitals make Combined.” Change to reflect that conditions represent more effect than personal choices, lifestyles and behaviours. Regardless of how good or reliable the data is, this research showed us that less is more. If you can use two facts instead of three, use two. Or better yet, use just one great fact. When introducing information to people who may be skeptical about social determinants, we found that more facts made people feel like they were being sold or spun. Context is important If you are using multiple facts, they should be complementary in advancing your message. For example, use one that underscores the problem and another that highlights the promise of an approach. http//sites.google.com/factsthatfightfiction. Republicans view poor health as arising from bad choices along one’s path and the inability to overcome obstacles to health that one encounters along the way. Rather than employing the Democratic frame of externally‐imposed barriers that trap communities in poverty and low levels of health, Republicans frame poor levels of health in terms of a failure to give individuals in a community “a road map of how to achieve [health].” Republicans view poor health as arising from bad choices along one’s path and the inability to overcome obstacles to health that one encounters along the way. Rather than employing the Democratic frame of externally‐imposed 139 barriers that trap communities in poverty and low levels of health, Republicans frame poor levels of health in terms of a failure to give individuals in a community “a road map of how to achieve [health].” Republican: - Unpredictable journey Limited resources Balance - it is natural that there will be differences in individual’s health; minimum acceptable level We should, however, establish a minimum acceptable level, providing enough resources that people are able to achieve health goals they set for themselves. A Republican states, “There [are] bound to be differences in health outcomes, there are good reasons why some people should be healthier than others. As long as we are willing to live in a society where people are different and given different levels of income, [we] will have to have different levels.” the best solution to health disparities as a balance between what is provided by the government and what is expected of the individual. Neither one of these entities should bear the sole burden of raising levels of health in poor communities. “Government makes decisions…and there has to be some balancing of altruistic motivation to redistribute and efficiency,” meaning that we should infuse resources into the best places, but we should expect individuals to take personal responsibility in using them.19 Dumbing down of the communication to engage the conservatives communication strategy would employ language and images that were more in line with how Republicans frame the issue. Use these Fair chance for good health • Opportunities for better health choices • Giving a fair shot in all communities • Enabling people to choose the right path • Giving tools to make better decisions Avoid These • Equality in health • Equal levels of health • Uniform health • Ending disparities • Closing the health divide Foundation talked about “resource‐poor neighborhoods” that do not offer “the same choices” for individuals to pursue paths to better health. We can focus on language that conveys the lack of options, choices, tools, resources, or opportunities in poor neighborhoods rather than inequality, barriers to health, or systems of factors working against the poor. This allows the Foundation to discuss the social determinants of health, but in a way that also resonates at a deeper level with Republicans. Choosing better paths, moving in the right direction, or enabling the pursuit of health goals all activate the frame of journey and individual responsibility more effectively than words like: lifting people out of poverty, breaking boundaries, or providing access to health, all of which evoke the Democratic frame of containers of poverty. 140 Conveying these social problems using individual stories supported by only a few powerful statistics or facts will also help to persuade skeptics more than many facts and figures. This would be particularly effective in trying to persuade a Republican skeptic; telling the story of an individual who could not exercise in a poor community due to the lack of a safe place to go jogging and a community program that provided an effective solution, which this individual took advantage of and subsequently lost weight, for example, would activate the frame of an individual journey while concentrating on one of the shared constructs on the map. The example of the person needing a safe place to go jogging would further illustrate the idea of government helping individuals exert control and what individuals can accomplish when in a safe environment. Balance between government responsibility and personal choice. GOALS The goal of this multi-phase project was to translate the concept of social determinants (and ultimately calls for action that stem from it) that might otherwise sound bland or unintelligible to the lay ear—even the educated ear— into compelling, motivating messages that not only create concern about the way things are but create hope that problems related to social determinants are solvable (e.g., that something can be done about disparities that lead to shorter, less productive, less healthy lives for millions of people based on factors that are arbitrary or outside their control). CHALLENGE convincing voting public in order to influence decision makers Translation of the language of science into the language of policy-makers—and, ultimately, the language of everyday people, whose support is essential to convince decision-makers that they can and should act on the available science, particularly where it bears on what they perceive as moral questions (e.g., health disparities). Linking networks that are not currently or adequately linked in their minds (e.g., that health is the flipside of disease and hence deserves more significant attention, or that health does not begin at the doctor’s office or the hospital). Effective communication uses language in the vernacular of target audiences that is clear, evocative, and readily remembered and retold, making use of the “story structure” to which our brains evolved to respond. The other messages were designed to be more values-driven and evocative, building on both the theoretical approach underlying this research— attempting to “work with” rather than against the way our brains naturally work. This was accomplished by using a strong narrative structure, attempting to be emotionally evocative and involving, and focusing on the values that could bring voters on board. This approach was helpful particularly with disparities messages, REPONDENTS Respondents preferred messages that focused more broadly on how a problem affects all Americans rather than on one group or another. of what the problem is but either an example of the kind of action we could take to fix it or a set of principles for going from where we are now to where we need to be. Without a solution, they would frequently respond by saying that they saw the problem, but they couldn’t see the solution. 141 Americans tend to view their health as something largely under their control—and for which they have to take— and expect others to take—personal responsibility. This is consistent with American culture and with previous research conducted for the Foundation over the last few years. It is also an important theme to address in messages that appeal to Americans on social determinants, particularly messages about health disparities, which Americans readily attribute to a lack of responsible behaviour, even when presented with data suggesting otherwise. This is also consistent with what social psychologists have called the “just world hypothesis,” a tendency of people (at least in the West) to want to believe that people get what they deserve (that the world is just rather than morally capricious) and hence, to blame people for their own victimization or misfortunate, whether or not they had any genuine role in contributing to it. Americans do not “naturally” contextualize health socially, but when presented with effective efforts to influence them, they not only “move” in their beliefs but move substantially. A central principle of messaging that applied in this research as in other domains is that Americans have an aversion to messages that start negative. 1. LEADS THE WORLD Nationalism and leadership America leads the world in medical research and medical care, and for all we spend on health care, we should be the healthiest people on Earth. Yet on some of the most important indicators, like how long we live, we’re not even in the top 25, behind countries like Bosnia and Jordan. It’s time for America to lead again on health, and that means taking three steps. The first is to ensure that everyone can afford to see a doctor when they’re sick. The second is to build preventive care like screening for cancer and heart disease into every health care plan and make it available to people who otherwise won’t or can’t go in for it, in malls and other public places, where it’s easy to stop for a test. The third is to stop thinking of health as something we get at the doctor’s office but instead as something that starts in our families, in our schools and workplaces, in our playgrounds and parks, and in the air we breathe and the water we drink. The more you see the problem of health this way, the more opportunities you have to improve it. Scientists have found that the conditions in which we live and work have an enormous impact on our health, long before we ever see a doctor. It’s time we expand the way we think about health to include how to keep it, not just how to get it back. TOTAL: 78.2 SWING: 77.4 ELITE: 79.0 2. START WHERE HEALTH STARTS begins with an inspirational message It’s time we made it possible for all Americans to afford to see a doctor, but it’s also time we made it less likely that they need to. Where people live, learn, work and play has an enormous impact whether they stay well in the first place. Health starts in strong, loving families and in neighborhoods with sidewalks safe for walking and grocery stores with fresh vegetables. Health starts in jobs we can get to without hours of commuting and in work places free of unnecessary hazards. Health starts in schools that educate our children for the jobs of the 21st century so they can compete in the world economy, that feed them healthy meals rather than junk foods, and that send them home safe at the end of the day. And health starts in having the time and financial resources to play at the end of a hard day’s work, because unrelieved stress takes its toll on our hearts and immune systems. As we work on fixing health care in America, we need to start where health starts, not just where it ends. TOTAL: 74.1 SWING: 75.5 ELITE: 72.7 STICKINESS “we need to start where health starts, not where it ends,” that has the property marketers describe as “stickiness”—that is, characterized by the tendency to “stick” in people’s minds. 142 POWER OF 3 People can generally read, hear, and follow three examples or themes in a message, but beyond that, they find the message incoherent or difficult to remember. DRAWING ON MULTIPLE VALUES Like the other messages, this one draws on a mix of values, some of which are familiar to public health and some of which draw associative links to other domains and hence increase its power: families, communities, nurturance, safety, prosperity, dignity, respect, safe work, fair wages, business, religion and leadership. One of the central characteristics of good messages is that they activate multiple values, not simply one (good health). In so doing, they activate the positive feelings associated with each of those values unconsciously, which has an impact that is sometimes additive and sometimes multiplicative 3. SOCIAL BY NATURE We are social by nature, and when the ties that bind begin to unravel, so does our health. Health begins at home in our families, with a loving relationship between parents and their children, where kids can expect to be safe, nurtured and protected. Health begins with healthy communities, with safe streets, freedom from violence, and parks where kids can play. Health begins with a good education, where children learn not only how to read, write, and prepare for fulfilling, prosperous life, but how to treat each other with dignity and respect. And health begins with safe jobs and fair wage, where people derive a sense personal satisfaction from their work and connection to their co-workers. No institution alone can restore a healthy America that nurtures families and communities. That will require leadership, and a partnership of business, government, and civic and religious institutions. We can’t eradicate illness, but we can foster health. And health begins with healthy relationships, healthy communities, and healthy jobs, which protect us from the stress of everyday life. That’s one prescription that doesn’t require a copay. TOTAL: 73.9 SWING: 73.6 ELITE: 74. Llinking health and prosperity - one increases the existence and possibility of the other. 4. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY People have a personal responsibility to take care of themselves and their health. But it isn’t right when things outside our control—like where we’re born or how much money we make—affect our health. In the entire city of Detroit—an area of nearly 150 square miles—there are dozens of “convenience stores” but only five grocery stores. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but you have to be able to buy an apple. And it isn’t easy to get exercise if you have to work three jobs just to get by, or if you can’t easily get affordable day care for your kids. We’re not just talking about the rich versus the poor. On Average, middle class Americans live shorter lives than those who are wealthy, and that’s not right. Money can’t buy happiness, and it shouldn’t buy health. We have to take responsibility for our lives and decisions. But all Americans should have an equal opportunity to make the decisions that allow them to live a long, healthy life, regardless of their level of income, education, or ethnicity. TOTAL: 71.4 SWING: 73.9 ELITE: 6 LEADS with Personal Responsibility and then goes into fairness Perhaps most importantly, like virtually all effective messages on issues related to race, ethnicity, and social disparities, the narrative starts right and moves left. It begins with a value that all Americans share but is central to conservative ideologies, particularly when applied to people who are readily viewed as “them” rather than “us,” namely personal responsibility. KEYS TO EFFECTIVE MESSAGING ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS 143 • Americans, including opinion elites, do not spontaneously consider social influences on health. They tend to think about health and illness in medical terms, as something that starts at the doctor’s office, the hospital, or the pharmacy. They recognize the impact of health care on health, and spontaneously recognize the importance of prevention, but they do not tend to think of social factors that impact health. • They do, however, recognize social factors and see their importance when primed. Raising awareness of social factors is not difficult, although people more readily recognize voluntary behaviors that cause illness (e.g., smoking, overeating) than arbitrary or social factors (e.g., race, ethnicity, income). • Americans, including elites, do not resonate with the language of “social determinants of health,” but they do resonate with the core construct. When presented with the compelling narratives, Americans recognize the importance of both the social context and health disparities. • Messages that sway Americans, including elites, are values-based and emotion-laden, not overly academic. Messages that sway Americans describe both facts and policy prescriptions at a moderate level of specificity– that is, at the level of principles or examples, not specific policy prescriptions or 10-point plans. • Americans consciously believe in equal opportunity to health, but messages that describe disparities evoke negative reactions unless written carefully to avoid victim-blaming and to emphasize the importance of people exercising personal responsibility. Messages about disparities trigger unconscious prejudice unless carefully constructed to redefine “them” as “us.” • Messages that mix traditionally conservative values (e.g., the value of small business) with traditional progressive values (e.g., equal opportunity) tend to fare better in speaking to health disparities. - Starting right and moving left is important in connecting with conservative Americans, who tend to believe that hierarchies are natural and reflect poor choices, bad judgement or bad behavior. MEDIA ARTICLES AND OP-EDS An investment that would pay off Published On Sat Mar 6 2010 Mark Sussman – Aurora Resident (Mark is a PACC member, participated with our DTM Working Group on the ISARC Social Audit and various other Poverty Free Ontario and PFIB provincial initiatives. He is now a member of the Social Planning Network of YR) The People's Review of Social Assistance is a process led by 20 social assistance recipients to identify what's wrong with the current system and to propose doable recommendations to change and enhance the way municipalities deliver services, communities offer support and senior levels of government provide income security benefits. The project is supported by the Daily Bread Food Bank and Voices from the Street. The Star is highlighting some of the participants in the review. Today's article is by Mark Sussman. As a teenager, my life took a bad turn, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which left me unable to work or attend school. I was grateful then, at 18, to be accepted the first time I applied to the Ontario Disability Support Program. 144 That gratitude turned to anger and disbelief, however, when I read the humiliating letter from anonymous officials who had done a paper assessment of my circumstances, telling me I would be "incapable of working for the rest of my life." I wondered how anyone could so confidently predict what my future held for me. Still, it was that assumption of my worth that motivated me to attend college part-time, in the hope of avoiding a lifetime of poverty and perhaps to prove to myself and others just how capable I was. Of course, it hasn't been easy. Given the amount I am allotted for rent, I've had to live in unstable housing where every morning someone woke me demanding money for drugs. I was hurt once by another tenant and had to keep quiet or risk losing the roof over my head. I started to find my voice when I became a member of a grassroots organization in York Region spearheaded by the Poverty Action for Change Coalition. It is through this organization that I discovered the remarkable opportunity to participate in a project called the "People's Review." We are training to be peer researchers in our own communities, to come up with questions to put to social assistance recipients about their struggles, their ideas for change and their hopes for the future. I have met and listened to my fellow panel members and had my eyes opened to some of the horrors of trying to survive out there. I've heard from people with challenging physical disabilities who have to wait years just to have the right to choose a personal support worker. I've heard how a single mom who moved here from a different province was threatened with receiving zero assistance because it was her responsibility to track down her missing ex-husband and sue him for child support. And I've heard how people suffering from addictions are told simply to "get over it." I was ashamed as a Canadian to learn that one member of our panel, who came here as a refugee without identification, was handcuffed at the airport and taken to a detention centre. And that another of the newcomers on our panel is qualified as a dentist but is blocked from practising unless he retrains – something he simply can't afford to do. It might surprise some to know that a major theme in our meetings is that there seems to be no way out of poverty. That what we receive, if we are finally deemed qualified to receive it, is barely enough to survive. This can, and has, caused people to act out of desperation, including staying in an abusive relationship or contemplating robbery. People who are on social assistance have vulnerabilities, either noticeable on the surface or hidden, for which they need help. What they need – what I need – is to be able to eat nutritious food, to live in a safe environment, to feel like we are more than a number. And it's essential that the public and the politicians understand that all people on ODSP and Ontario Works (tragically seen as the "deserving poor" and the "undeserving poor") who are capable of becoming financially self-sufficient, whether through education, trades or business ownership, want to do so. There needs to be a shift in governmental thinking when it comes to social assistance. I'd like Queen's Park to know that providing enough money for healthy diets and increasing opportunities for people to contribute their 145 skills and abilities rather than waste away in shame and isolation would be an investment that would pay off big time in savings, especially to our burgeoning health-care budget. Don't worry, we're not asking you to create any more committees or studies. We've got that covered with our People's Review. All we are asking you as our elected officials, the ones who are entrusted with making the decisions that directly impact our lives, is to review the evidence. Then all you will need to ask yourself is: How can we not afford to do this? Mark Sussman lives in Aurora. He is learning to be a paralegal and doing advocacy work related to poverty. Number of People Needing Aid in York Region Rises York Region Media Group (YRMG) Article January 2011 Found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Eating On Welfare - Star Article on the “Eat the Math Challenge Found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Nick Saul, ED of THE STOP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE - Speaks on Others Taking the Opportunity to Experience Living on a Food Bank Diet Found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Press Release Post Budget - Provincial Found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ SPNO RESOURCES FROM PFIB Social Planning Network of Ontario www.spno.ca Hard Hit: Impact of the Economic Downturn on Nonprofit 146 Community Social Services in Ontario October 2009 Context The vital role of the nonprofit community social service sector is never more apparent than during harsh economic times. When communities are reeling from mounting job losses and growing insecurity, organizations on the front lines are called upon to respond. In turn, the capacity of the sector to respond is critical to individual and family well-being and the cohesion of communities. In Ontario, decades of government underfunding and cutbacks have left agencies under-resourced and overextended at the best of economic times. While governments have increased their reliance on the nonprofit community service sector to deliver vital programs, they haven’t been willing to foot the full bill (Clutterbuck & Howarth, 2007). Based on an analysis of 155 discretely funded programs, researchers calculated that programs, on average, are underfunded by 14% (Lynn Eakin & Associates, 2004). Found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Human Dignity for All: Working For a Poverty Free Ontario - Report Power Point Presentation Please find the Report provided by www.spno.ca and the Power Point Presentation both at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Status of MPP Visits to Do the Math It Doesn’t Add Up! June 2010 - Report - Please find the Report at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ OTHER LINKS TO VALUABLE WEBSITES: Can be found at THE STOP http://dothemath.thestop.org/links.php Put Food in the Budget Social Planning Network of Ontario 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction Meal Exchange Income Security Advocacy Centre Campaign 2000 147 Voices from the Street The Colour of Poverty Ontario Coalition Against Poverty Ontario Coalition for Social Justice The Wellesley Institute Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives PFIB – PROVINCE WIDE CAMPAIGNS AND STRATEGIES CAMPAIGN FOR CAMPBELLS – Put Food in the Budget 2011 Our Message to Campbell Canada President Philip Donne What has more power to reduce hunger: a donation of canned soup or the equivalent in taxes to support social programs? See the answer on the back page. The Put Food in the Budget campaign recognizes that Campbell Canada has developed Nourish as a nutritional food product. Food banks may welcome the Nourish food product as they welcome all donations. Our major concerns are as follows. Campbell’s claim that Nourish can make a ‘serious dent in hunger’. Campbell’s established an initial donation goal of 200,000 cans of Nourish for all of Canada. 850,000 people use food banks in Canada every month, 400,000 of those in Ontario. 200,000 cans will not be enough for even one meal in a month for every person in Ontario who goes to food banks. We are not aware of the ultimate donations goal of the Nourish campaign.Given the number of people who go to food banks in Ontario every month we believe an ‘impossible’ level of public donation of Nourish food products is required to make a ‘serious dent in hunger’. Dignity is the missing ingredient in Campbell’s Nourish food product. Campbell’s claim that Nourish is a ‘complete meal in a can’ creates the false impression that it is an adequate substitute for fresh whole foods. MPP Visits to Do the Math Budget Survey – 2009 – Present SPNO Report on Do the Math Visits with MPPs available at www.yrfn.ca 148 Do the Math Budget Survey and Postcard Campaign The Do the Math Budget Survey began with the STOP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE- The Campaign has seen in excess of 15,000 postcards completed and returned to provincial ministers and MPPs, as well as to Premier McGuinty. Thousands have completed the Online Version of the Survey Take this Weblink to Do the Math online at THE STOP website http://dothemath.thestop.org/surveystart.php Do The Math in the Media http://dothemath.thestop.org/media.php Toronto Star: Can city candidates campaign on an empty stomach? CAW: Letter to Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario BlogTO: How can we better feed Toronto families in need? Huffington Post: Food Bank Diet: Prominent People Try Surviving On Welfare Diet Globe and Mail: Living on a welfare diet Toronto Star: What's it like to live on food bank fare? CTV News talks to Dr. David McKeown about Do The Math Pitchfork News: F**ked Up's Damian Stays Busy Toronto Star: Eating on welfare Damian Abraham of the band F**ked Up blogs about Do The Math Good Food Revolution: The Stop's Do The Math Campaign City TV: Some Prominent Torontonians to Get a Taste of Life on Social Assistance Inside Toronto: The Stop Invites Torontonians to Do The Math National Post: Looking Like Celebrities but Eating Like the Poor 680 News: Can You Survive on Three Days of Food for One Week? The Toronto Star: Reality of Living on Social Assistance Do The Math Challenge: Press Release 149 Take the Math Challenge or Food Bank Diet Challenge – April 2009 ongoing Do the Math ‘Challenge’ Invitation: This is an invitation to your community to participate in the Do the Math Challenge (referred to from here on as the ‘Challenge’) which will be the week of October 4 – 8, 2010. This ‘Challenge’ is inspired by the recent initiative of The Stop Community Food Centre and is in response to the request of several communities who are interested in replicating the ‘Challenge’ in their community. The Challenge asks community leaders to take part in a public act of solidarity with people on social assistance by living for one week with some of the very limited food options faced by people on social assistance in Ontario. (See Challenge Format below for more details) The reasons for this public act of solidarity are to show the   Inadequacy of social assistance rates in ensuring a healthy diet and affordable housing. Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty that there is public support for immediate implementation of the Healthy Food supplement – an increase of $100 per month for every adult in Ontario receiving social assistance - as a first step towards ensuring a life of health and dignity for people in Ontario with the lowest incomes. To demand   An immediate increase of $100 per month for every adult receiving social assistance as a first step towards addressing the inadequacy of current social assistance benefits A fair and transparent way of setting social assistance rates so that people can meet their basic needs and lead a healthy and dignified life. Provincial Challenge: There will be a Provincial Challenge Team made up of leaders of Ontario organizations and leaders of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign whose income is social assistance. The Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson has committed to be part of the Provincial Challenge team. Leaders of labour, faith, health and arts organizations are also being invited and we will confirm with you their names as they confirm their participation. Schedule - Provincial Challenge Orientation – There will be an orientation session for people who have accepted the ‘Challenge’ where they will meet with a group of leaders of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign whose income is based on social assistance. The purpose of this meeting is to orient the ‘Challenge’ participants to the full Note: An annual increase of $1,000 in income for the poorest 20 per cent of Canadians would lead to almost 10,000 fewer chronic conditions and 6,600 fewer disability days every two week. (Poverty Is Making Us Sick, A Comprehensive Survey of Income and Health in Canada. Lightman, Mitchell & Wilson, 2008). http://socialplanningtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/poverty-is-making-us-sick.pdf 150 experience of social assistance and to create a context for their Challenge experience. This Orientation will be in early September – date to be arranged. Press conference – There will be a press conference on Monday October 4 at Queen’s Park to announce the Challenge and introduce the provincial Challenge team. Challenge – October 4 – 8, provincial Challenge team will take the Challenge and report through website and media interviews their experience. th Provincial ‘Town Hall’ meeting – Monday October 18 (evening) will be a Town Hall meeting in Toronto where the provincial Challenge team will report on their experience. We will invite people from around Ontario to join us for the Town Hall meeting and to stay for the following day for a strategy session on moving forward. This meeting is tied to closely co-incide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. http://www.un.org/events/poverty/2006/index.html th Strategy Day – Tuesday October 19 representatives from communities around Ontario will meet to develop strategy to continue pressure on the McGuinty government to implement the Healthy Food Supplement. Format of ‘Challenge’ - Community leaders who accept the ‘Challenge’ will choose a set of food choices that a person on social assistance typically has available in the last week of a month. Campaign leaders whose income is based on social assistance will create a short profile of their individual circumstances and provide a list of food that they typically have available in the last week of the month. Challenge Team members will choose the profile of one of the Put Food in the Budget leaders and make that their diet for three days to a week. (Challenge team members will purchase the food themselves from the list provided in the profile they select). We invite your Community Challenge team to also hold an orientation session between members of your community with lived experience of poverty and with Community Challenge team members. We also invite you to th hold a press event on Monday October 4 to announce and ‘kick-off’ the Community Challenge. We also invite you to hold a town hall meeting in your community after the Challenge is complete. You may choose to hold this in conjunction with International Day for Eradication of Poverty events in your community. Organizing Responsibilities of Community Challenge: If your community accepts the Challenge then we ask you to take on these responsibilities: 1. Recruit local community leaders to accept the Challenge and support them to Choose a diet based on the food options of lived experience of members of our Put Food in the Budget team that rely on social assistance and maintain this diet for between three days and one week. Report in their own journal or on our campaign website (or both) their experiences while on the Challenge Talk with people in their social, work and professional circles about the Challenge as they experience it 2. Organize a public event (timing to be determined) that explains why your community is taking the Do the Math Challenge 3. Organize in a public event after completion of the Challenge to describe the experiences of people who took the Challenge and speak to the need for an immediate $100 increase in social assistance benefits Checklist – A detailed checklist and sample materials will be developed and be available for your community in August. 151 Next Steps 1. Are you interested in accepting the Community Challenge? This invitation is to provide you with an overview that you can bring to the leadership group in your community for an initial discussion and to begin thinking about who you might ask in your community to accept the Challenge. We would like you to let us know as soon as you can if you are interested, the questions that you have and the supports that you think you will need. 2. Tell us what you need - Your questions and suggestions will help the Put Food in the Budget Campaign develop detailed resource materials and tools to support you if you choose to accept the Community Do the Math Challenge. These materials will be ready in August. 11 For more information please contact Mike Balkwill, Co-ordinator, Put Food in the Budget Campaign, 416 806 2401 [email protected] BACKGROUND Rationale for the Challenge: Community representatives from the Put Food in the Budget campaign visited more than forty MPP’s across Ontario and asked them to complete the survey. The MPP’s who completed the survey said that a single person needs a minimum income of $1340 per month. Almost all of them said social assistance is inadequate. The Liberal MPP’s gave different reasons for not supporting the Campaign’s request for an immediate increase, because of the recession; because they wanted to wait for the results of the Social Assistance Review, or because they feel there is not pubic support. Minister Meilleur said to our delegation that ‘she would love to give people an extra $100 per month but it’s not on the public radar’. The purpose of the Challenge is to demonstrate that there IS public support for an immediate increase in social assistance as a first step towards health and dignity for people receiving social assistance. Secondly, the Social Assistance Review terms of reference have just been released. The Review will not begin until September and will last twelve to eighteen months. There will likely be no recommendations before the next election and no possibility of implementation before the election. So a second purpose of the Challenge is to raise awareness that the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy means little if it ignores the poorest people in the province and fails to immediately improve the income of people on social assistance. Finally, it is important to show public solidarity with people in Ontario who experience persistent stigmatization and discrimination. Valentines for Dwight Duncan – Finance Minister – February 2011 11 I will be on holidays from July 19 – August 10. Please send email with questions, comments and I will follow-up when I return. 152 VALENTINES FOR DWIGHT DUNCAN - VOTING WITH YOUR HEART!! Across Ontario this week, many communities are voting with their Hearts – Valentines Hearts that is. As part of the cross provincial Put Food in the Budget Campaign, thousands of community members are showing their support for the implementation of the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance. The recipient of these Valentines is Ontario’s Finance Minister Dwight Duncan who will be delivering his 2011 budget in the weeks to come. In this act of solidarity, we are imploring Minister Duncan to “Have a Heart” and to make a difference in the lives of individuals on social assistance who are among the most vulnerable of our citizens. Since the province announced its Poverty Reduction Strategy in December 2008, different measures have been introduced but nothing to speak of in term of the dire poverty being experienced by adults on social assistance in this province. In 1995, social assistance rates were cut 21.6% and since that time a combination of miniscule increases of 1% here and 1% there along with the steady increase in cost of living over 16 years, has amounted to rates that reflect 40% less income or purchasing power for individuals today than they had pre-1995. Just to point out how antiquated the rates really are, a single person on Ontario Works will receive $592/month while the LowIncome Cut-off, or poverty line for a single person, is approximately $1,500/month. People on social assistance are actually so far below the poverty line that paying rent and eating food is out of the question. Any wonder that food bank use is on the rise and the number of homeless and chronically under housed continues to increase? “While $100 Healthy Food Supplement will not eradicate poverty by any stretch of the imagination, we believe it could be the first humanitarian step to address the immediate need of individuals in our community who are going without food either to pay the rent or to feed their children.” Yvonne Kelly, Chair of the Do the Math Working Group. The next step is setting rates that reflect the true cost of living. The province is currently engaging in an 18 month review of the entire social assistance system but while this process unfolds, we maintain that people cannot wait any longer. It is also not an option for Charity to replace Income. While food banks and meal programs across York Region and the province, are trying to hold their own against the barrage of need that they encounter every day, it is simply naïve and unrealistic to think that volunteers and donations can continue to make up the difference where public policy falls short. Adequate rates of social assistance and unemployment insurance, good jobs, fair employment standards, a living wage that reflects the true cost of living, instead of the minimum or poverty wage that we currently have, along with affordable housing, are the policy directions that will make it possible for people to live with health and dignity, and reach their potential in this province. This week, voices across Ontario have made themselves heard in Valentines poems such as this one: “Dwight Duncan, don’t fudge it – Put Food in the Budget.” People across the province have voted with their heart and continue to send a clear message to the Finance Minister. Municipalities across Ontario are also joining the campaign’s momentum as they recognize the cost to their communities, when the health and well-being of all their citizens is not safeguarded. York Region Council recently accepted and endorsed the York Region Social Audit and its recommendation - one being the implementation of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement. We are also joined by the Health and Social Services Committee of the Regional Municipality of Durham, Social Services Administration Board of the District of Parry Sound, the Town of 153 Wainfleet and the City of Hamilton, all of which passed motions to call on the provincial government to add a $100 HFS. For more information about the Put Food in the Budget campaign or Valentines for Dwight Duncan, please visit www.putfoodinthebudget.ca or contact the Do the Math Working Group in York Region at 905-967-0428 ext 205. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan We are writing to you, as individuals and groups across York Region, who are part of the Ontario-wide Put Food in the Budget Campaign. While our letter and cards are coming to you one month past Valentines Day, we knew that you would be interested in receiving them none-the-less. Better late than never as they say, and that’s what we’d also like to say to you concerning the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement. While it is already late in coming, we won’t hold that against you. We know that it will make an absolute difference in the lives of the many people on social assistance in York Region and across Ontario. People voted with their hearts when they made out their Valentines to you over the last month. The predominant group that expressed an interest in sending you these messages, were food bank visitors and individuals who out of survival, rely on community meal programs in York Region on a daily basis. Volunteers who provide these programs, also want to pass along their plea for the $100 Healthy Food Supplement as 45% of the people they serve are on Social Assistance. With depleting resources and a growing demand for emergency food, the volunteers at the front-line of these programs are really feeling the pinch and know that a $100 Healthy Food Supplement would ease the very real burden being faced by many recipients and would also reduce the demand on emergency food supplies so that others on a low or fixed income can access food. Our Valentine’s message is simple and consistent with the other 30 communities across Ontario who are involved in this campaign: Don’t Fudge it. Put Food in the Budget. Include funds for a $100 HFS in this budget. We trust that you will hear our concerns and our pleas. We realize that your government has committed to various other poverty reduction strategies and while we applaud these measures, we must remind you that individuals on social assistance continue to exist so far below the poverty line in Ontario that it is inexcusable. Please do the right thing and provide the Healthy Food Supplement as 154 one measure in addressing human suffering, chronic poverty, unnecessary health care costs related to inadequate nutrition and the tragic loss of human potential. We look forward to a day when hunger does not define the landscape of communities across Ontario. Please work with us to achieve this vision. Sincerely, Yvonne Kelly, Chair of the Do the Math Working Group in York Region On behalf of: Residents, Emergency Food Program Recipients, Volunteers and Community Workers in York Region cc. Premier McGuinty, Minister Meilleur Valentines to Dwight Duncan Press Release and Statement – Feburary 2011 YRMG Locate at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Food Bank Awareness Campaign – Freedom 90 – June 2011 ongoing The Food Band Awareness Group began with our recognition through the AAA Project that we needed to target specific groups with information about how to advocate for changes that would promote health and adequate incomes for individuals on social assistance. Food Bank volunteers and meal program volunteers were a natural ally and we knew many of them through our work with York Region Food Network and the Do the Math Working Group. After many discussions we held our first meeting at the YRDSB Education Centre in Newmarket to which 18 people attended. I co-facilitated this first meeting with Mike Balkwill, Provincial PFIB Coordinator. We have met monthly ever since that time, with the exception of December 2011. While there are many documents and resources available at www.yrfn.ca files for the AAA Project, I will only include a couple here to give you a good sense of the depth and potential of this project as we head into the next months and into 2012. FREEDOM 90 INITIATIVE Freedom 90 Initiative Objective: The objective of this initiative is to mobilize volunteers and staff in food banks and emergency meal programmes to advocate for urgent action by the Ontario government to reduce poverty. Background: A group of food bank/emergency meal programme volunteers in York Region began to meet before the provincial election with the hopes of highlighting the issue of growing food bank use and poverty in the provincial election. We came up with what we think is a terrific idea for an initiative, but we were unable to develop it enough to launch it in the election period. Nonetheless we think it is a good idea and we have kept working at it. 155 Activities: The main activities of the initiative are intended to enable volunteers to highlight that they would like to be able to ‘retire’ from the voluntary work of providing food for people with low incomes – but they can’t do that until the government accepts its responsibility to provide people with an income adequate for housing, healthy food and the other basic necessities. Freedom 90 Pledge: Food Bank and emergency meal programme volunteers will be invited to sign a ‘Freedom 90’ pledge that says We believe the Ontario government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone in Ontario has an income adequate for housing, healthy food and the other basic necessities We believe the government has the responsibility to provide adequate incomes, and reduce food bank use, before the volunteer who signs the pledge, turns 90. Provide a brief statement of experience (see attached form) that describes the year the volunteer started volunteering in food bank/emergency meal programme; how many years they have been volunteering; whether the need in their community has grown or declined; and when they hope to be able to retire from this work. We will know that poverty is being reduced in Ontario when the food banks close because they are no longer necessary. There are many ways to reduce poverty in Ontario Ontario is too wealthy a society for there to be so much inequality and therefore Ontario can afford to reduce poverty Freedom 90 initiative is developing publicity materials to support this initiative including A brochure outlining the Freedom 90 pledge A video of food bank/emergency room volunteers performing “50 Ways to Close the Food Banks” (with apologies to Paul Simon) which it will release when we launch this initiative. A website Timetable: We would like to ‘formally’ launch the initiative in the new year (date to be determined) and would like to build towards that launch in the following ways Secure commitments of several food bank/emergency meal programmes as founding members of the Freedom 90 initiative Obtain pledges from 100 individual volunteers before the launch Prepare the publicity materials Form a planning committee for the launch – which could be a workshop style event. How you can be involved: There are several ways to support this initiative Your organization could be a founding member of Freedom 90 You could meet with volunteers in your organization and ask them to fill in the statement of experience Ask volunteers to sign the pledge Volunteer to join the planning committee for the launch of Freedom 90 Make a financial donation from your organization – we are anticipating costs of $2500 to create the publicity materials 156 PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET and Reduce Reliance on Overburdened Food Banks and Meal Programs across Ontario It is becoming increasingly obvious that it is the Volunteer Sector in this province, not our government, that is shouldering the bulk of responsibility where our neighbours in need are concerned. On a daily basis, those of you who are on the front-lines at the 450 food banks in Ontario understand and see the increasing needs and growing reliance on emergency food programs across Ontario. With a 28% increase in food bank use from 2008 – 2010 and rising food prices looming in 2011, we can expect two things to happen. - Another increase in the number of people on low and fixed income seeking emergency assistance from the food banks, and A potential decline in food and cash donations as higher food prices will cut into everyone’s incomes and ability to give. It is time to insist that the provincial government take the hunger crisis in Ontario seriously and take their full share of responsibility for addressing issues of basic need. To quote the OAFB contribution in the HUNGER COUNT 2010 Report: “We need change. We need our governments to step up and provide effective social programs that allow families and individuals to live with health and dignity. We need politicians to be bold and make well-reasoned decisions for the long-term good of our citizens. We need help, because Ontario’s food banks cannot – and should not – have to shoulder this responsibility forever.” We are writing to you as a group of concerned citizens, volunteers, individuals marginalized by income, community workers, health professionals and others who are part of the cross-provincial PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN which is active in 30 communities across Ontario. We need your support in our ASK of the provincial government to: Introduce immediately, a $100 Healthy Food Supplement (HFS) for every adult in Ontario receiving social assistance, Set social assistance rates based on the real cost of housing, food and the personal expenses necessary to live a life of health and dignity. With 45% of food bank visitors in Ontario relying on social assistance as their source of income, we know that the $100 Healthy Food Supplement will make a very real difference in their lives. It will also help reduce some of the demand on our food banks who are trying to meet the needs of countless others on low or fixed incomes. If you are feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of being able to meet the growing demands in your own food bank or meal program, please add your voice to ours and support the PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN in any of the following ways: - Go to our website www.putfoodinthebudget.ca and find out how you can add your voice to the request for the immediate implementation of a $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on Social Assistance. 157 - Sign the attached endorsement form and send it to: Put Food in the Budget Campaign c/o Yvonne Kelly York Region Food Network 510 Penrose St. Newmarket, ON L3Y 1A2 - Ask the Board of Directors of your food bank to sign the attached endorsement form and send it to the address above. - Send a copy of your Endorsement Page to your Local MPP to make him/her aware of your concerns and request for the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement. - Call Yvonne at York Region Food Network (905)967-0428 Ext 205 to find out more. Or email at [email protected] **You can read more about this campaign and quotes from volunteers working on the front-lines in food banks and meal programs, in our Background Sheet also attached. **The information in this email blast is also available in an attachment titled Call to Action on the Healthy Food Supplement (HFS) We look forward to hearing from you and working together to bring about much needed change. Template for talking with food bank volunteers Introduction with group: I am part of a group of people who volunteer at food banks. We are proud of the service we provide. We are also worried about the growing need and whether it will ever end and whether we will ever be able to ‘retire’ from this volunteer work. What once seemed to be a temporary emergency has grown into a permanent condition and we feel the government has become too reliant on food banks. One member in our group said this: “In 1990 I started to volunteer at the food bank. I thought it would last two or three years. Twenty-one years later I am still volunteering. Now I am seventy-two. The way things are going I wonder if I will be able to retire from this volunteer work before I am ninety?” So we said we would tell this story to volunteers we work with and see if they have any similar feelings. We’d like to hear from you – using the template as a guide – and I’ll take them back to the committee to share and compare with our group. • My name is ________________________ • I started volunteering at the food bank/emergency meal programme at the age of _______ in the year _______. • I have been volunteering here for _____ years and now I am ________ years old. • I think the need for ‘emergency’ food in my community is (please check one) 158 _________ growing _________ declining __________ staying the same _____- don’t know • When I began to volunteer I thought it would be for ____ years • I hope I am able to retire from this volunteering by the time I am ___________ • I would also like to say ______________________________________________________ Survey Questions for Food Bank Volunteers PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET and Ease the Burden on Emergency Food Programs Help us to determine the disparity between the hunger in Ontario communities and what volunteers can reasonably address through food bank and community meal programs. The recent OAFB (Ontario Association of Food Banks) Hunger Report 2010 confirms that: - - There has been a 28% increase in Food Bank use in Ontario from 2008 – 2010 There has been a 25% increase in the number of meals served through meal programs offered by food banks which doesn’t capture the growing number of meal programs offered by other groups and organizations. 85% of food banks across Ontario experienced food shortages in 2010. By answering these questions, you will help us to demonstrate to the provincial government, that food banks and meal programs can no longer be expected to carry the bulk of responsibility for meeting the most basic of needs. It is time that the province began reducing its reliance on emergency food programs by playing its role in addressing the direct causes of hunger and poverty: - Inadequate social assistance rates. Lack of good jobs with decent pay. A minimum wage that doesn’t reflect the true costs of living in 2011 Lack of Affordable Housing. Six Questions for Food Banks, Meal Programs, Volunteers and Community Boards 1.) Have you witnessed an increasing demand on your program in the past 2-3 years? ____________________________________________________________________ 2.) Does your Food Bank or Meal Program continue to have the capacity (food, volunteers space or other resources required) to meet the needs that you are presented with? ____________________________________________________________________ 3.) As food prices rise, are you concerned about the current, mid or long-term capacity of your program to continue meeting the needs for food? _____________________________________________________________________ 4.) Are you or your organization feeling overwhelmed about the prospect of meeting increasing needs with fewer resources, on an ongoing basis? _____________________________________________________________________ 159 5.) Do you think that the provincial government has more of a role to play in addressing the causes of hunger and poverty which make your programs necessary? If yes, what would you like them to do? _____________________________________________________________________ 6.) Will you endorse the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario as one poverty reduction measure and a way of reducing the demand on your food bank or meal program? _____________________________________________________________________ PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET and Reduce Reliance on Overburdened Food Banks and Meal Programs across Ontario Email Blast for General Public It is increasingly obvious that the Volunteer Sector in Ontario, not our government, is shouldering the bulk of responsibility for our neighbours in need. Daily, volunteers at the 450 food banks in Ontario encounter firsthand the increasing needs and growing reliance on emergency food programs across Ontario. With a 28% increase in food bank use from 2008 – 2010 and rising food prices looming in 2011, three things will happen. - The number of people on low and fixed income seeking emergency assistance from the food banks will increase yet again. - Higher food prices will cut into everyone’s incomes and ability to give and consequently, food and cash donations will decrease yet again, and - Even donations from those who can maintain their donation level will, in effect, be less because the purchasing power of the donations will decrease, yet again. We must insist that the Ontario Government resolutely address the hunger crisis in Ontario and assume full responsibility for issues of basic need. To quote the OAFB contribution in the HUNGER COUNT 2010 Report: “We need change. We need our governments to step up and provide effective social programs that allow families and individuals to live with health and dignity. We need politicians to be bold and make well-reasoned decisions for the long-term good of our citizens. We need help, because Ontario’s food banks cannot – and should not – have to shoulder this responsibility forever.” We are writing to you as a group of concerned citizens, volunteers, individuals marginalized by income, community workers, health professionals and others who are part of the cross-provincial PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN which is active in 30 communities across Ontario. We need your support in our ASK of the provincial government to: Introduce immediately, a $100 Healthy Food Supplement (HFS) for every adult in Ontario receiving social assistance, 160 Set social assistance rates based on the real cost of housing, food and the personal expenses necessary to live a life of health and dignity. Fully 45% of food bank visitors in Ontario rely on social assistance as their primary or only source of income. The $100 Healthy Food Supplement would make a very real difference in their lives. It would also help reduce some of the demand on our food banks that are desperately trying to meet the needs of countless others on low or fixed incomes who are not social assistance recipients. If you feel that it is inappropriate for volunteers in our food banks and meal program to bear the burden of responsibility for hunger in our communities, please add your voice to ours and support the PUT FOOD IN THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN in any or ALL of the following ways: - Go to our website www.putfoodinthebudget.ca and find out how you can add your voice to the request for the immediate implementation of a $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on Social Assistance. - Sign the attached endorsement form and send it to: Put Food in the Budget Campaign c/o Yvonne Kelly York Region Food Network 510 Penrose St. Newmarket, ON L3Y 1A2 - Ask your Board of Directors to sign the attached endorsement form and send it to the address above. - Send a copy of your Endorsement Page to your Local MPP to signify your concerns and your plea for the $100/month Healthy Food Supplement. And/or write a letter to your MPP requesting the same. - Call Yvonne at York Region Food Network (905)967-0428 Ext 205 to find out more. Or email at [email protected] **Read more about this campaign and quotes from volunteers working on the front-lines in food banks and meal programs, in our Background Sheet. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to bring about much needed change! Articles and Op-EDs Elaine Power It's time to close Canada's food banks ELAINE POWER From Monday's Globe and Mail Published Monday, Jul. 25, 2011 2:00AM EDT Food banks have become a serious obstacle in the fight against poverty. By promising to “end hunger” by feeding hungry Canadians, they provide a comforting illusion that no one is hungry – or if they are, it’s their own fault. They shelter us from the harsh reality that millions lack the basic necessities of life. More related to this story 161 Welfare recipients not receiving volunteer supplements How paying people’s way out of poverty can help us all Teaching people to cook outside the box Photos Default? It’s time to close our food banks. I’ve reached this conclusion after 18 years of researching food, hunger and poverty; volunteering at food banks; serving on a food bank board; and recently taking part in a challenge where I ate from a typical food bank hamper for three days. The first problem is that food banks can never end hunger. Most people who could officially be classified as “hungry” simply don’t use them. In the only national survey that bothered to ask (conducted by Human Resources Development Canada), one in four hungry Canadians used food banks. Many would rather go hungry than accept charity. Or they choose to leave the food for those who, they tell themselves, “really” need it. Research shows that even those who use food banks go hungry. That’s because food banks can only supply what is donated. Given the overwhelming demand for their services and their limited supply, food banks must ration how much they provide to clients. Most restrict households to a once-a-month hamper. No one wants to see Canadians go hungry. This reaction led to the creation of food banks in the first place. That was in the early 1980s, when a deep recession pushed up unemployment. The good-hearted people who started them thought food banks would be a short-term response. Now they’re a normal feature of our landscape. I’m not trying to blame food banks. The staff and volunteers who fed almost 900,000 Canadians last year are caring and dedicated, and they work hard to reduce the indignities of charity for those who receive it. But food banks are unable to do what they promise. They allow some people to experience less hunger. The problem, however, is too big for community-based charities to solve. Food banks have had 25 years to “end hunger.” Instead, demand continues to grow. It is time to stop applying a “solution” that isn’t working. Food banks also serve many unintended functions. To start, those of us who donate, volunteer or participate in food drives “feel good” about making a difference in the lives of others. But we need to look beyond this aspect of our volunteer experiences. 162 Food banks also let governments off the hook from their obligation to ensure income security for all Canadians. They undermine social solidarity and social cohesion by dividing us into “us” (those who give) and “them” (those who receive). Food banks are good for corporations, especially food corporations. They can use food banks to offload edible food they can’t sell, then advertise themselves as caring businesses. And holding corporate-wide food drives builds company morale. None of these corporate benefits are problematic in themselves, but they mean that corporations have a vested interest in the status quo. Food banks can never solve the problem of poverty. It’s time to hold our governments accountable to their obligation to ensure that all Canadians have a standard of living adequate for health and well-being. Giving food to those who are hungry is a simple response that everyone supports. Tackling poverty means wrestling with diverse ideas about causes and solutions. It’s time to begin that political conversation. But first we have to remove the obstacle that food banks have become. Elaine Power, an associate professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, has served on the board of the Partners in Mission Food Bank. 287 comments For complete article visit http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ 163 Link to Nick Saul’s Interview on Metro Morning December 16, 2011 http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/columnists/mary-wiens/2011/12/16/beyond-food-banks-endinghunger-in-canada-2/ Christmas Cards for Dalton Mc Guinty – December 2011 For more information about the Christmas Cards for McGuinty Campaign which was hugely successful, please visit www.putfoodinthebudget.ca See complete card at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ 164 ADVOCACY WITH PROVINCIAL MINISTERS VISITS 2010-2011 MINISTER MEILLEUR (Minister of Community and Social Services) Visit in Spring 2011 Minister Meilleur said to our delegation that ‘she would love to give people an extra $100 per month but it’s not on the public radar’. MINISTER LAUREL BROTEN (Children and Youth Services Committee) September 2011 PFIB contingent to visit Laurel Broten in September 2011 (Yvonne attends) PFIB CONTINGENT INCLUDING 2 YR REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND LAUNCH OF ONTARIO THE POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY REPORT (December 2011) – Spoke to and advocated with Ministers of Children and Youth Services, and Chair of the Poverty Reduction Working Committee Eric Hoskins, and John Malloy, Minister of Community and Social Services. (Yvonne and Tom in attendance from AAA Project and Do the Math Working Group) OTHER RELATED AND INTERCONNECTED POVERTY CAMPAIGN AND TOOLKITS ISARC – Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Commission – www.isarc.ca Poverty Advocacy Toolkit 165 December 17, 2011 With the provincial election behind us, ISARC is prepared to continue its advocacy efforts in solidarity with the diverse faith communities in Ontario to ensure poverty elimination is included in the political debates at Queen’s Park over the next four years. STEP 1: Congratulate your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Send a congratulatory letter to your newly elected or re-elected Member of Provincial Parliament. Make sure to remind them in the letter about the focus of poverty elimination and that you wish to have a meeting with them in the near future to discuss the poverty-related issues and solutions. ISARC Letter – Hon. Dalton McGuinty ISARC Letter – Hon. Tim Hudak ISARC Letter – Hon. Andrea Horwath STEP 2: Put together an interfaith delegation Be sure to plan a delegation made up of the members of diverse faith communities to advocate together on poverty issues. This will demonstrate the solidarity of faith communities on these social and economic issues to public officials and civil servants. It will also help to build strong relationships and dialogue amongst faith communities ensuring a stronger, more inclusive community. STEP 3: Get educated on the issues Hold a pre-meeting with the delegation to get educated on the poverty-related issues that will be discussed with the MPP. It is best to focus on practical solutions in addition to presenting the problems. Download any of the resources at the end of this page that discuss the cost of poverty and the economic sense for poverty elimination. You can also download the ISARC primer on key public policy issues and “asks” for the Ontario Government below. Invite content experts as speakers to your preparatory meetings to get a good understanding of the subject matter. STEP4: Visit your MPP Arrange a meeting with the MPP in your riding, bring along as many people from the interfaith delegation, the Perisistent Poverty book and a printout of the Policy Issue Brief. Let your MPP know your groups’ commitment to the poverty elimination movement. Remind them about that every political party voted in the Poverty Reduction Act in 2009 and ask for their party’s position to advance its goals and objectives. Remind them of the current review under way of Ontario’s income support systems by the Social Assistance Review Commission headed by Frances Lankin and Dr. Munir Sheikh. Ask them to take seriously the recommendations in this report and not simply have it collect dust on a shelf. 166 STEP 5: Hold a “Meet and Greet” Event Host a Meet and Greet event for the MPPs for all the ridings in your region or municipality to meet with leaders of faith communities. In some regions, like Kitchener-Waterloo there are four MPPs, if you include the City of Cambridge. Other regions, may only have one. In Toronto, it may be beneficial to have local Meet and Greet events in the four districts (Toronto, North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough) since each district has an average of 8-10 ridings. Find a keynote speaker to open the evening with an overview of poverty elimination strategies and issues impacting Ontario citizens living on low-incomes. Remind them that every political party voted in the Poverty Reduction Act in 2009. Give each MPP an opportunity to give an overview of their plans for poverty elimination over the next four years. The rest of the evening can be an opportunity for casual conversation and discussions with political officials. STEP 6: Keep the Dialogue Going After you’ve meet with your MPP, make sure to keep the dialogue going by keeping them informed about the issues with regular correspondence (e.g. emails, phone calls). Inform them of local events/demonstrations being planned by your group and/or ISARC. STEP 7: Connect with other Social Justice Groups Bring the faith communities in your neighbourhood to meet with other community organizations, social service agencies, and other groups advocating for social justice. Now is the time for the faith sector to strategically partner with other grassroots movements for real change to occur. Caution: Do your research before partnering with other groups. Be sure that the groups with whom you wish to partner have the same values as your group. Do some research on the group’s past activities and advocacy track record to determine if they are the best fit for your group. STEP 8: Write to your Local Newspaper Faith groups need to regularly raise public awareness on poverty issues by writing to their local newspaper’s editorial board. Many newspapers consider it newsworthy when local faith leaders stand up on social issues with political relevance. The easiest message to write is a comment or response to an article you’ve read in the newspaper that perhaps undermines the poverty elimination message. Also, comment on how well or poorly your local newspaper covers poverty-related news stories. Be direct and clear. STEP 9: Meet with Government Staff Don’t forget that once a legislation is passed, it needs to be implemented by the staff working in government offices. Take the time to meet with the government staff and make sure they are aware of your local group and the impact you are making in your community. ISARC Poverty Issue Backgrounders Social Assistance (January 2012) 167 Employment (January 2012) Housing and Homelessness (January 2012) Fair Taxes (January 2012) Other Resources 168 Health, Not Health Care – Changing the Conversation. 2010 Annual Report from the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. December 2011. Healthy public policy is what results when the conversation changes from health care to health. The trenchant point made by the Senate subcommittee and many other health care advocates is that healthy public policy must inform everything we do. Real public health – the kind of public health Ontarians deserve – will only truly be practiced when we apply a health lens to every policy that is implemented in this province, every program that is carried out and every service that is delivered. __________________________________________________________________________ Common Ground: A Strategy for Moving Forward on Poverty Reduction. Prepared by 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction. Fall 2011 Ontario has officially passed the halfway point to its promised target date of reducing child poverty by 25 per cent by December 2013. Much has happened since December 4, 2008, the date the Ontario government announced its first fiveyear poverty reduction commitment. But, especially in light of ongoing economic turmoil, much more needs to be done in order to meet the target. This report examines the progress Ontario has made to date and lays out the next steps required to make good on the promise. __________________________________________________________________________ 3rd Annual Report on the Poverty Reduction Strategy. Prepared by Government of Ontario, 2011. This report is the official 3rd Annual Report on Poverty Reduction Strategy prepared by the Government of Ontario listing achieved successes and recommendations for next steps to achieve targets for 2013. ______________________________________________________________________ 169 Cost of Poverty: An Analysis of the Economic Cost of Ontario Ontario Association of Food Banks, November 2005 Canadians who look at poverty through the eyes of those it afflicts know the poor bear huge costs from having to live with deprivation and the stresses it imposes. Together with the strains they create within families, these direct costs of poverty – hunger and inadequate nutrition, inferior housing, alienation from mainstream society and scant opportunity for a better life – take a heavy toll of the poor, their self-esteem and the ability of their children to learn and thrive in school. _____________________________________________________________________ Report – Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty (In brief) National Council of Welfare, 2011 This report is about the high dollar cost we are currently paying for the consequences of poverty, and why investments to end poverty make better economic sense. There are different approaches to poverty. An approach based on short-term spending to help people in poverty get by can often carry indirect costs. It does not do a good job of reducing poverty itself. ___________________________________________________________________________ Report – Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty (Full Version) National Council of Welfare, 2011 170 This report is about the high dollar cost we are currently paying for the consequences of poverty, and why investments to end poverty make better economic sense. There are different approaches to poverty. An approach based on short-term spending to help people in poverty get by can often carry indirect costs. It does not do a good job of reducing poverty itself. ______________________________________________________________________________ The Canada We Want in 2020: Reducing Income Disparities and Polarization This report explores policy changes for federal government to help reduce income disparities and polarization in Canadian society. See www.yrfn.ca AAA Project Files for the following: ISARC – Poverty Free Ontario Brochure 2011 Poster for “Breaking Free from Persistent Poverty” Faith Leaders Forum – June 9, 2011 Final Draft for Powerpoint – “Behind the Masks” YR ISARC Report in Power Point Form Poverty Free Ontario – (Social Planning Network of Ontario) www.povertyfreeontario.ca Contact List for Cross Provincial Network September 12, 2011 Cross-Community Contact List for September Election Events/Activities 171 Belleville: Community Forum on a Poverty Free Ontario and sign blitz launch 10:00 AM, Monday, Sept. 12 New Hope Christian Fellowship 151 Cloverleaf Dr. West, Belleville Contact: Ruth Ingersoll Community Development Council of Quinte 613-968-2466 [email protected] Kingston: Media conference (11:15 AM) to launch PFO sign blitz campaign followed by a silent vigil (12:15 PM), Friday, Sept. 16 Sir John A. MacDonald Rm., Kingston City Hall Contact: Jamie Swift (613) 544-4525 ext. 144, [email protected] Tara Kainer (613) 544-4525 ext. 113, [email protected] Justice, Peace and Integrity Creation Office, Sisters of Providence Cambridge: Media conference and sign blitz launch 9:45 AM Thursday, Sept. 15 Cambridge City Hall, Dickson St. Contact: Linda Terry Laura VanderGriendt 519-623-1713 [email protected] Kitchener-Waterloo: Media panel launching the Sign Blitz 12 noon Thursday, Sept. 15, First United Church, 16 William St W, Waterloo. AllCandidates meetings on sept. 14, 15 and 18. Contact: Elisha MacWhirter 519-579-1096 [email protected]. Cornwall: Launch of sign blitz (Sept. 8) and week long program of community activities including All-Candidates meeting and community concert. Contact: Michelle Gratton Social Development Council of Cornwall & Area 613-930-0211 [email protected] Oakville: Media conference with leaders from the Interfaith Council of Halton, Voices for Change Halton and the Halton Poverty Roundtable 10:00 AM Thursday, Sept. 15 Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 304 Spruce Street, Oakville Contact: Pastor Daniel Phannenhour, Interfaith Council, 905-845-1563 Oshawa: Short prayer vigil and media conference to launch a sign blitz 6:15 PM Thursday, Sept. 15 St. George's Memorial Anglican Church in downtown Oshawa, at the corner of Athol and Centre Streets (just east of Oshawa City Hall) Sault Ste. Marie: Media conference to launch Sign Blitz dramatic performance of a play on homelessness 10:00 AM, Thursday, Sept. 15 Soup Kitchen Community Centre 172 James St., Sault Ste. Marie Contact: Precious Cedolia 705-943-5604 [email protected] Contact: Rev. Ted Glover 905-723-2533 [email protected] Parry Sound: Contact: Tami Boudreau Poverty Reduction Network of the District of Parry Sound 705-389-3210 Sudbury: Contact: Annette Reszczynski Social Planning Council of Sudbury 705-675-3894 [email protected] Toronto: 172 [email protected] Peel: Contact: Andre Lyn Social Planning Council of Peel 905-629-3044 [email protected] Port Colborne-Fort Erie: Media conference to launch Sign Blitz 9:30 AM, Thursday, Sept. 15 Bridges Community Health Centre - Port Colborne Site 177 King Street, Port Colborne Contact: Mary Anne Feagan, Bridges Community Health Worker 905-871-7621 x2246 [email protected] Windsor: Contact: Adam Vasey Pathways to Potential 519-966-8203 ext. 224 [email protected] Interfaith media conference to launch Sign Blitz 9:30 AM, Thursday, Sept. 15 The Cathedral Church of St. James 65 Church St., Toronto Contact: Bruce Sudds Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition 416-931-3643 [email protected] Welland: Media conference to launch Sign Blitz and announce evening vigil Thursday, Sept. 15 St. Kevin’s Catholic Church, 307 Niagara St., Welland Contact: Fr. Jim Mulligan 905-735-5885 [email protected] York Region: Contact: Yvonne Kelly York Region Food Network 905-936-7837 [email protected] Provincial Contact: Peter Clutterbuck Social Planning Network of Ontario 416-653-7947 cell 416-738-3228 [email protected] Web Sites: www.povertyfreeontario.ca www.faithtoendpoverty.ca Poverty Free Ontario Overview of Campaign Social Planning Network of Ontario 173 Moving to a Poverty Free Ontario The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) plans to launch an initiative to build cross-community support for a Poverty Free Ontario by the end of this decade. Social planning councils have a long history since the 1930s of advocating for low income people, whether welfare recipients or working poor. In recent years, the SPNO and its organizational members have assumed a lead role in urging the Ontario Government to adopt a poverty reduction strategy for Ontario. Specifically, In the summer-fall of 2007, SPNO mobilized cross-community support for poverty reduction in Ontario and released a report on “Ontario as the Child Poverty Centre of Canada”, which prompted Premier McGuinty prior to the October 2007 election to commit to the development of a poverty reduction strategy within one year of his Government’s re-election. SPNO strengthened its cross-community mobilization on poverty reduction by developing a Policy Framework and Blueprint for Poverty Reduction and by conducting two tours of the province visiting 30 communities prior to the release of the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy in December 2008. Since 2009, working with community leadership in Toronto and across the province, SPNO has focused on the Put Food in the Budget Campaign (PFIB), promoting the adoption of a benefit increase of $100 a month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on OW and ODSP as the first step towards adequacy in benefit levels to enable all Ontarians to live with health and dignity. Partnering with The Stop Community Food Centre and guided by the PFIB Steering Committee, the SPNO has provided organizing and field support for the use of the on-line Do the Math survey tool (9,000 completed) and has engaged 20 communities across the province in the Do the Math Challenge. 2011 Provincial Election Year The Ontario Government’s current commitment to poverty reduction focusing on a 25% reduction in child poverty ends in 2013. Since 2011 is a provincial election year, now is the time to begin a public discussion about where Government action needs to go to move from a partial and measured commitment to reducing child poverty to a full commitment to the eradication of all poverty in Ontario by the year 2020. In May 2010, the SPNO leadership set policy development and cross-community mobilization for a poverty-free Ontario as a major provincial and community level priority for SPNO and its local and regional organizational members in 2011. Mission An Ontario free of poverty will be reflected in healthy, inclusive communities with a place of dignity for everyone and the essential conditions of well-being for all. The mission of Poverty Free Ontario is to eliminate divided communities in which large numbers of adults and children live in chronic states of material hardship, poor health and social exclusion. 174 Securing a Legacy Commitment th 2017 will be the 150 anniversary of Canada as a country and Ontario as a province. Poverty Free Ontario will ask the political leadership of all parties in the 2011 provincial election to commit publicly to a “legacy commitment” for the Sesquicentennial. That legacy commitment would be for the provincial government of whatever political stripe to have adopted and implemented a comprehensive plan by 2017 resulting in the eradication of poverty in Ontario by 2020. This plan should move beyond poverty reduction targets set by the current Government for children in 2013 to bring all children and adults out of poverty by the year 2020. PFO Strategy for 2011 A. A Policy Agenda for a Poverty Free Ontario A new Policy Agenda for a Poverty Free Ontario would build on SPNO’s policy development work in 2008. Essentially, policy proposals will be developed and advanced in three key areas for the eradication of poverty in Ontario: (1) End Deep Poverty: Upgrade Social Assistance (2) End Working Poverty: Assure Basic Living Wages (3) Protect Food Money: Phase in a Full Housing Benefit The Policy Agenda would link the strategy for eradication of poverty with a good quality of life for all Ontarians in order to build public and political support. It must demonstrate that the interests of the poor and the broad middle class are indivisible. B. Critical Milestones Simultaneously with the framing and promotion of a Policy Agenda for a Poverty Free Ontario, there are specific actions and resource allocations that can and must be taken now and over the next year or more to kick-start a longer term commitment to eradicating poverty. These actions constitute Critical Milestones that would: a) address immediate hardships that people are experiencing now (i.e. the HFS); b) identify key decision dates for the implementation of poverty eradication measures to achieve the goal by 2020; and c) demonstrate serious political commitment to poverty elimination beyond the perpetual future promises that have prevailed to date. The Put Food in the Budget Campaign advocating for a $100/month Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance is an immediately doable action. This measure could be implemented as part of the Government’s commitment to Social Assistance Review, which at the moment is focusing on long-term overhaul of the income security system rather than action possible immediately using the existing social assistance system. Proposing specific measures for ensuring income adequacy beyond the first step of the HFS, Poverty Free Ontario would constitute an important policy development link to the immediate social assistance increase that the PFIB campaign is advocating. 175 PFO Bulletin: Questions to Anticipate Bulletin #7 September 12, 2011 Poverty Free Ontario: Questions to Anticipate The Poverty Free Ontario campaign is getting its message – “Let’s Vote for a Poverty Free Ontario” ‐‐ up in signs posted on the properties of supportive individuals and organizations in 16 communities across the province. As the signs go up, the questions from the media and from citizens will follow. So, we should be prepared to answer them. The Poverty Free Ontario brochure provides good background information to our position as does our web site www.povertyfreeontario.ca . But there follows some short answers to questions that we might anticipate. What is Poverty Free Ontario? Poverty Free Ontario is an initiative to bring together communities across the province in order to: 1) make ending poverty a public issue in the 2011 provincial election; 2) urge that all political parties commit to a poverty eradication agenda if elected; and 3) ask that all electoral candidates have poverty eradication as part of their platforms and campaigns. Twenty communities across the province support Poverty Free Ontario and sixteen are actively participating in the democratic process to promote this message during this provincial election campaign by displaying election‐style signs and talking to the general public and electoral candidates. Is it realistic to talk about actually ending poverty in the province? More than 1,689,000 Ontarians live in poverty according to Statistics Canada’s latest figures. This is 13.1% of our provincial population, the highest rate of poverty in thirty years. While a zero poverty rate may not be achievable just because some people experience short‐term circumstances that drop them below the poverty line periodically (“shallow poverty”), northern European jurisdictions have managed to drop their general poverty rates to as low as 4%. With a comprehensive poverty elimination plan in Ontario we could do the same within this decade. We must start by ending “deep poverty” in our province. Currently a single person on social assistance struggles to survive on an annual income that is more than $11,000 below the poverty line and a single mom with one child lives $9,500 below the poverty line annually. Poverty Free Ontario is an initiative of the Social Planning Network of Ontario. www.povertyfreeontario.ca 2 176 It is imperative that our provincial government adopt and implement a comprehensive plan to ensure that no one lives in deep poverty (80% or less of the poverty line) by 2015. Introducing a $100 a month Healthy Food Supplement as a first step to establishing adequate benefit levels in social assistance would be a start. And raising the minimum wage in three 75 cent increments over three years would ensure that all Ontarians working full‐time at lower wage jobs would live above the poverty line. Right now, the minimum wage still leaves a full‐time worker about $1,000 below the poverty line. Which parties or candidates does Poverty Free Ontario recommend that people vote for in this election? Poverty Free Ontario is non‐partisan. We do not endorse or encourage that Ontarians vote for any particular party or candidates. We do urge Ontarians to question all electoral candidates on their commitment to ending poverty and to make their own individual choices about which candidates and political parties they believe will act to end poverty in this province. Which political party is addressing the concerns of Poverty Free Ontario in this election? Although the official election campaign is only in its second week, none of the political parties and very few of the electoral candidates running under party banners have expressed a clear commitment to ending poverty within a reasonable timeframe nor made it a priority issue for discussion with the public. None of the published party platforms give any prominence at all to poverty or its elimination. Poverty Free Ontario sees its job to raise the issue and to encourage the electorate to recognize that poverty of the scale and depth that currently exists is intolerable, unjust and a risk to the overall quality of community life for everyone in our province. How could the province ever pay for eliminating poverty in this decade? The provincial government always has fiscal options for addressing major social issues. Poverty Free Ontario has pointed out elsewhere that in the long run investment in a serious plan to eliminate poverty is self‐financing resulting from the eventual savings to our health and social services systems (estimated $38 billion annually including foregone tax revenues). [see http://www.povertyfreeontario.ca/2011/07/14/pfo‐bulletin‐4‐fiscal‐options‐for‐a‐poverty‐free‐ontario/]. Reclaiming public revenue by ending or adjusting the schedule of corporate and personal income tax cuts would also enable the government to address deep poverty. Poverty Free Ontario is an initiative of the Social Planning Network of Ontario. www.povertyfreeontario.ca 3 177 Wouldn’t a housing benefit to low income Ontarians be a major anti‐poverty initiative? There is a place for a carefully deigned housing benefit to alleviate the pressure on the budgets of low income households. Poverty Free Ontario supports a housing benefit that protects the core incomes of both social assistance recipients and low wage working individuals and families. The first important step, however, is to ensure that social assistance benefit levels and wage levels provide adequate basic incomes for daily living. Then, a full housing benefit could complement basic income levels for individuals and families who have higher housing costs than their basic incomes can manage. The housing benefit currently being proposed in some quarters would not provide this kind of coverage. Its proponents estimate that about 200,000 low income tenants would qualify. The social assistance caseload itself is approaching almost 600,000, so that clearly the housing benefit proposal as it now exists would be inadequate. The risk, of course, is that a future government would jump at this relatively low cost anti‐poverty measure (estimated at about $240 million) as its gesture to fighting poverty, while the depth of poverty in the province would not be significantly reduced, let alone eliminated. Poverty Free Ontario believes that the structural issue of inadequate basic income levels through adequate social assistance rates and decent wages must first be assured. Then, measures such as a housing benefit to all low income Ontarians with high housing costs could be designed and implemented to protect the ability of household budgets to meet the daily cost of food and other necessities of life. For further information contact: Peter Clutterbuck, SPNO Coordinator (416) 653‐7947 cell (416) 738‐3228 [email protected] Web site: www.povertyfreeontario.ca Invitation and Agenda for York Region Event to Present Poverty Free Ontario The Social Planning Network of Ontario presents POVERTY FREE ONTARIO Human Dignity for All: Working or a Poverty Free Ontario A comprehensive look at the strategies necessary to eradicate poverty and subsequent human suffering with and a message that inspires all of us to be part of the solutions. Tuesday June 7, 2011 9:00 am-12:00 noon Aurora Public Library in Aurora Hosts: Regional Councillor John Taylor Co-Chair of the York Region Human Services Planning Board 178 Patricia Taylor Co-Chair of the Social Planning Council of York Region Presentation by: Peter Clutterbuck and Marvin Novick Social Planning Network of Ontario Location: Aurora Public Library in the Magna Room Parking: library parking lot Time 9-9:30 Meet and Greet - Light Breakfast 10:00 Introductions and Background to the PFO Initiative 10:15 Presentation of PFO Mission and Blueprint 11:30 Questions, Discussion, Next Steps 12:00 Wrap-up Everyone is welcome – Elected Officials from all levels of government, Community and Government Agencies/Staff, Board Members, Community Members and Volunteers, Faith Communities and members of the Business Commuity and Service Clubs. We can all play a part! Please RSVP to Yvonne Kelly by Friday June 3rd. Email [email protected] or call (905)967-0428 ext. 205 This Event is being brought to you by a number of Sponsors / Partners The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario The York Region Food Network Food Security Working Group The Do the Math Working Group of York Region (Put Food in the Budget Provincial Campaign). The Social Planning Network of York Region 179 The following Files can be found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ York Region Poverty Free Ontario Flyer for June 11, 2011 Press Release for York Region Event Do the Math YR Commitment to the PFO Provincial Campaign - The AAA Project made all of the Buttons for the PFO Advocacy Campaign across the province 180 Poverty Free Ontario Brochure Poverty Free Ontario Presentation Toronto Press Release re: PFO Sept. 12, 2011 All of the above can be found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Poor No More – www.poornomore.ca How to Organize a Screening Whether you are considering a simple screening in your home, or organizing a larger event, we offer some suggestions on how to make your screening more successful. At the back you will find a Planning Checklist. A Simple Screening Host a Screening Party - You could host a screening in your home for family, friends or random strangers. It can be a great way to bring people together, raise awareness and take action. You don't need a fancy television - if you can play a DVD you can improve our world. All you need: Date and Venue The film - you can order it from www.PoorNoMore.ca DVD player and television - or a video projector Advertise enough to fill the room You might want to offer: Panelist(s) to lead the discussion Copies of the film to sell, and/or Order Forms Information table Useful resources available on our website Trailer and Video Clips Posters, Mini-flyers, Web banners Postcards, Discussion Guide, Take Action, Factsheets Order the film, Order Form Press Release, Media Coverage, Synopsis List of Sponsors and Supporters, Endorsements and Photos 181 Information about reducing or eliminating poverty Facebook Upcoming Screenings Organizing A Larger Event Contact The Filmmakers Email [email protected] or call David Langille at 647 280 7747 Request a Screening Kit with publicity materials including posters, postcards, media relations guide, discussion questions, fact sheets, etc. If you are screening the film outside your home you must purchase a copy with public performance rights. Special arrangements need to be made to screen the film to large audiences (eg. conventions), or wherever admission is charged Find Local Partners We encourage you to collaborate with some of the sponsors and supporters behind the film. A list of over 50 groups can be found here. You will find links to most of these groups on our website. Several of them likely have representatives in your community. You may also want to partner with some local groups that have an interest in the issue...unions, churches, social service agencies, etc They may be able to offer you a venue, help with the finances, and help in publicizing the film. They can also be important political allies if you want to act on the issues raised in the film. Venue Or Location Be ambitious! After one or more preliminary screenings to solicit interest in the film and expand your network, consider booking a local independent movie theatre. You may find a local organization to rent the facility for the evening, or you can arrange with the theatre to split the revenues from the box office. Consider a high school auditorium or cafeteria. Or a church, mosque, synagogue or temple. Many of the sponsoring groups have their own meeting spaces. How about the local union hall? A classroom, student centre or other campus facility? Ask a local coffee shop, pub or other business to allow you to use their space...maybe even a Legion or a shopping mall. Your local library or community centre might organize a screening, or at least let you reserve a room. Invite your family, friends and neighbours into your living room. 182 Admission How much to charge? Do you need to cover the full cost of the event, or can you get local organizations to sponsor the screening? Will you sell tickets in advance? - That can help guarantee a full house and lower your risks, especially if you can get organizations or individuals to purchase large blocks of tickets. But it can be complicated to distribute the tickets and ensure that you get back all that did not sell, as well as the money and cheques Will your people operate the box office? It helps to have a friendly face who is familiar with the audience and your organization, and it helps ensure accountability for all of the funds. Make sure that you provide them with a float so that they can issue change. Will you have a way to accept payment by credit cards? If you want to "pass the hat" to collect donations, make sure that you have suitable containers ready. Invitations Invite your local representatives (MP, MPP or MLA, Mayor and Councillors) so they can learn about the issue and take appropriate action. (Make sure to provide your audience with the contact information for your local representatives...so they know who to hold accountable.) Invite local organizations with an interest in the issue - eg. unions, churches, foodbanks, social service agencies, etc. They may want to offer an information table or recruit members for their ongoing work. Inviting the local media to cover the screening may encourage them to offer publicity in advance - and to report on the film itself and the ensuing discussion. Logistics Projection equipment - You will need a video projector, the size of which will depend on the size of your venue. The documentary was shot in high definition video, using a 16:9 aspect ratio. (The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of the width of the image to its height - so that means it will look best if shown on a wide screen). We normally supply the documentary in a standard DVD format which can be played on a DVD player or laptop computer. If you have a large venue and want to offer high definition, we can supply you with a digi-beta tape format, or even offer a BlueRay disc if you can help with the costs involved in "authoring" a disc. Sound equipment - Again, your requirements will vary depending on the size of the venue. A laptop computer can normally be heard by only 2 or 3 people, adding small speakers can boost that to perhaps 30 people, but larger audiences require a proper sound system. If you have a discussion you may want to offer a microphone for the facilitator and another for the discussant, and perhaps one or two for the audience. Don't forget the necessary cables. Tech check - Does the DVD play correctly? Adjust the colour until faces and and skin colour looks normal. Are the proportions right? If not, change the aspect ratio to 16:9 or widescreen. Is the whole picture showing on the screen? Is the sound clear and adequate? Locate the house lights... 183 Information table - You may want to set up one or more tables to sell tickets, sell DVD's and offer information for your group or the other organizations that you invite to the event. Don't forget chairs. Sell DVD's or offer copies of the order form - You could sell DVD's in order to raise money for your organization or simply to help pay for the film and get it out to a wider audience. Download a copy of the order form. Sign-up sheet - It is a wonderful advantage if you can collect the names, phone numbers and emails of those participating so that you can follow up with more information or news of a specific action they could get involved in.. You could direct people to the information table where you have a sign-in sheet, or you could provide everyone with an "action card" that they could deposit when leaving. Greeters, ticket takers and ushers - It's always nice to have someone welcome you and direct you to your seat or the washrooms... Start 5-10 minutes late so that latecomers don't disturb the show. Publicity Posters - From the Poor No More website you can download 8 ½" x 14" posters in Word format which allow you to add your details about the date, time, location and sponsor, etc. before you print them on a colour copier or printer. Mini-Flyers - From the Poor No More website you can download the artwork for 3 mini-flyers arranged on an 8 ½" x 11" sheet. You can add your details, then print, cut and distribute these flyers to individuals. Giant movie posters - We can mail you some beautiful full-colour 27"x40" movie posters. Although we had them printed for free, the postage and mailing tube cost $20. Media release - From the Poor No More website you can download a template media release to which you can add your own contact information and screening details. Send it to all of your local newspapers, TV and radio stations. They may feature your event, especially if you have a high profile speaker. Events listings -- Don't overlook community and campus newspapers, or a listing in the weekly entertainment magazine. Website button - From the Poor No More website you can download a small, medium or large graphic button which you can post on your website along with your screening details and a link to our website for more information about the film. Email lists - We can send you jpg artwork for a header or even a small poster that you can embed in your email. But even a simple email may be the best way to reach the most people for the least cost. Facebook Event page - You can copy material from our Facebook site to set up your own events page, then ask all of your members to notify their friends. Poor No More website - You can list your screening on our website - post it yourself or send us an email with the details. Twitter - Ask your members to spread the word. 184 Photographer - Have someone record the event for your website or your local media. Discussion In order to get the full value from a public screening allow at least 15 minutes, and preferably 30-45 minutes for a discussion of the film. Arranging for someone with a high profile to lead the discussion can help with publicize the event. If you want to invite one of the filmmakers you can find our bios on the Poor No More website. Whether you invite one of the filmmakers or a local expert to kick off the discussion, they should keep their initial comments to a minimum (no more than 5 minutes) because the audience needs a chance to share their reaction to the film. You might kick off the discussion with the simple question, "Did you like the film?" The audience will enjoy, and likely get more value, from a highly interactive discussion rather than be subjected to a long lecture. You will need a chair person to facilitate the discussion (to make sure that everyone has a chance to participate and no one dominates) AND to introduce and thank any resource persons that you invite. It's a good idea to supply the discussants with water and glasses. Figure out when to handle announcements of upcoming events or actions. Take Action In the course of making this film we have begun to appreciate the scope of the problem that afflicts us. The problem, as we see it, is not limited to a minority, nor can it be fixed with a few new policies or programs. All working people across Canada and around the world are facing increasing economic insecurity and many are fearful of falling into poverty. Why are the working poor less secure? It used to be expected that people would be thrown into poverty if they lost their job, their family, or their health. But citizens in many of the industrialized countries improved their social security over the course of the 20th century, thanks in large part to trade unions and progressive political parties. Much of that security has been eroded over the course of the last thirty years as the transnational corporations have tried to lower their costs of production and create a global marketplace. In concrete terms, this has meant driving down wages by discouraging unions, outsourcing work to other countries, privatization of public services, de-regulation and removing barriers to "free" trade and investment. What can be done? Given the scope of the problem, we are not about to recommend a simple policy fix. See the Take Action factsheet for more detail. The film makes that point that we can only achieve progressive social change if we act together in social movements and political parties. Collect the names, phone numbers and emails of those participating so that you can follow up with more information or news of a specific action they could get involved in... 185 Reception A reception before or after the event can be a great way to strengthen the social bonds that make for an effective coalition. It may be easy to get some group to sponsor this event, eg. to give those invited a glass of wine, or provide cheese and crackers or other snacks. The reception could be in the same venue as the screening, or at a nearby restaurant or other location. You will likely need to issue separate tickets and directions to the reception. Planning Checklist Prior to the event... Seek partners Book venue Arrange for people to lead the discussion (so you can use their profile to help publicize the event) Order posters Send out email Set up a Facebook Events page and use it to invite people Distribute posters Arrange for a table to sell DVD's Arrange for information tables for local groups Arrange for a sound system with several microphones on the stage and on the floor if you want to have discussion following the screening Invite local politicians Day of the event... Take the DVD of Poor No More If not supplied, bring a projector, DVD player and sound system, and appropriate cables. (You may want to bring along a spare bulb or have an alternative projector available). Test the projector, DVD player and sound system well before your audience arrives. Bring whatever signage and publicity materials you require at the event - eg. a sign-up sheet, postcards, posters for forthcoming events, reviews of the movie, order forms for the movie. Bring DVD's for sale Put up signs Test the equipment for good picture and sound. Provide a microphone if needed. During the event... Collect peoples names and contact info as appropriate Give people news of the next meeting when they could follow up on the issue Ask for donations to cover the costs of the film or upcoming actions. Announce where people can gather for a follow-up discussion - at a local pub, restaurant or reception. After the event... Let the local media know what they missed Report on the attendance, etc to [email protected] 186 AAA PROJECT IN PHOTOS Please visit http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Do the Math Challenge Photos by Category - PFIB Provincial Rally October 2010 Presentation to Community and Health Services Committee January 2011 Assorted AAA Photos to be used in AAA Video AAA Hosts Hunger Awareness Day June 2011 Poverty Free Ontario Presentation June 2011 Training AAA Advocates Summer/Fall 2011 AAA Letter Writing Clinics - Spring /Summer 2011 PFO Launch September 10, 2011 at IFTC Building in Newmarket Take the Math Diet Challenge in YR - 2010 AAA Do the Math Planning Meetings - 2011 October 17, 2011 International Eradication of Poverty Day AAA – EVALUATIVE SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS AAA - Project Activities and Highlights for 2011-2012 – A month – month Breakdown of Activities January – February 2011 – Tom Pearson and I presented the YR Social Audit Report – Behind the Masks to the YR Community and Health Services Committee; they accepted they report and its recommendations and requested that Council accept and endorsed the recommendations which they did one week later. Included in those recommendations was the key one focused on the $100 HFS which our AAA project is working to gain widespread awareness of and support for. This was a huge step in bringing forward support for the HFS and credibility for our advocacy work, which in turn paved the way for a closer and productive working relationship with the staff at the region We had several meetings of the Do the Math Working Group to kick start the project and to proceed with the identification of smaller groups to work on the Video Development, and the Advocacy – Outreach strategy which would facilitate training of community members and the development of our AAA Kit and Facilitator’s guide to be used with the video. 187 We began in early February to identify the main focus of the video and began writing a script to reflect the reality of poverty in York Region, the importance of healthy communities and what that means, and most importantly a call to ACTION so viewers would realize that there are things they can engage in to make the necessary changes. - We help regular meetings in the north and the south of YR to mobilize members to participate in the development of the Tool Kit, the production of buttons to share our message, and the plans of how to outreach to others as well as to reach MPPs with our letter writing strategy. With Community Partner Community Living York South, we engaged on a very successful letter writing campaign to MPPs, helped to prepare them for 2 meetings with their MPP Helena Zaczek, and we also jointly purchased a button maker which was to become a great tool for engaging volunteers and producing our own advocacy buttons. March – June: We worked with our community partners and a smaller video development group to produce a quality AAA video entitled – It’s not too Late to Change the World. We utilized local individuals from NM-Aurora to star in the video. Our host for the video discussion was a young woman who had grown up in Newmarket and who had witnessed the changes in her own community from 15-20 years ago until today. Also, others in the video included YRFN families and Poverty Action for Change parents and children. We utilized photo images from the YRAEH Photo Voice project and other images were provided by Tom Pearson a local media person and PACC. It was definitely a home grown project. May-June In anticipation of our video being completed by the end of June, we planned several initiatives in May and June to do outreach and education to the communities of York Region. We held three community screenings of the Film POOR NO MORE; we facilitated discussion of the social determinants of health/poverty as well as the need for an increase in the social assistance rates in Ontario to ensure that individuals have enough money to purchase healthy food. 1. 2. 3. Georgina at the Town Council Offices – we held the first one in Georgina on Hunger Awareness Day – st June 1 Richmond Hill at the Library – Newmarket at the Crosslands Church Theatre - Presentation at OMSSA I presented and provided a powerpoint presentation at the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Meeting of commissioners from across the province. I was invited by the Chair, who is also our Commissioner of Community and Health Services in YR, Adelina Urbanski. We had been in discussion with John Taylor, Regional Councillor from NM and Adelina Urbanski, the Commissioner of Community and Health Services for YR, regarding holding a Poverty Free Ontario presentation in York Region in June 2011. Marvin Novick and Peter Clutterbuck of SPNO agreed to visit YR as one of their many visits across Ontario to unveil the PFO plan including an emphasis on the $100 HFS which our project is endorsing. Councillor 188 Taylor supported and promoted the initiative throughout the Region and Co-Chaired the event along with Pat Taylor, Co-Chair of the SPCYR. We had approximately 70 people in attendance at the event at the Aurora Library. In Cooperation with Other Campaigns to Eradicate Poverty and Improve our Communities… As part of the PFO Ontario Strategy heading towards the provincial election, YRFN through the AAA project and CLYS in partnership shared their button making resources to be able to produce approximately 3,000 for the campaign province wide. We worked closely with the Campaign throughout the summer. July – August Video Promotion AAA Video is on YRFN website; also shared with PFIB provincial website and later with SPNO. Also, widespread distribution of the link to the video provided to other partners, agencies and individuals in York Region Set up our On-Line Petition for the HFS and distributed the link and Request widely to promote it. Explored other social Media options but decided to continue with Facebook and the on-line petition urging people to support the Healthy Food supplement; Redirection of Focus on Advocacy Efforts from MPPS and General Public to specific Targetted Groups. **One thing that was not in our favour was that throughout this year, with the Federal election in the spring and the upcoming Provincial Election in October, there were numerous campaigns and requests for all MPs and MPPs time as well as the time and attention of citizens and even organizations so that we were aware that people were being inundated with requests to support many different groups/campaigns. We decided it was best to target two specific groups of people who we felt could be champions for this cause and for whom it would have a real impact. Simultaneously we as a provincial network, continued to pursue municipal and regional governments to endorse the $100 HFS and make their requests known to the Premier. a. Boards of Directors of organizations serving the public b. Emergency Food Program (FB and Meal program) VOLUNTEERS – We started the Ontario food bank Awareness Group which began meeting in June of 2011;goal to empower volunteers who work in emergency food sector to advocate for the individuals and families they serve who are living in poverty as well as for themselves. Many of the volunteers have been working for up to 20 years, average age is mid 60’s to 70’s. They are tired, frustrated and unable to leave their volunteer work for fear of what will happen to their clients. In most cases, supplies of food are dwindling, while demand for food continues to increase. It’s a crisis of huge proportions for individuals and for the volunteers/ volunteer organizations. Now known as the FREEDOM 90 Group. Developed a data base of agencies and organizations throughout YR to which we could send emails, invitations, our video and other AAA resources. Coalitions and Partnerships in Advocacy - Through the AAA Project, I participated on the CYFS Forum in the planning of their ONE VOICE campaign targeted at all candidates for the fall provincial election. 189 - Carolyn Mooi, Community Mission Specialist with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and I worked together to plan for joint training of volunteers, soon to be advocates for the Healthy Candidates Campaign and the AAA Campaign. - Participated in the Poverty Free Ontario Campaign planning meetings as they prepared their strategies and campaign heading towards the provincial election. September - October The weeks of September and into October were of course leading up to the provincial election and all that went along with that. Groups, organization and individuals we would usually be working with, were very busy at this time. Case in point, the Children Youth and Families Forum of YR were rolling out their own meetings with candidates from all parties to express their priorities and find out from candidates where they stood on issues relating to children and families. AAA Training along with Heart and Stroke Healthiest Candidate Training Hosted a Poverty Free Ontario Event on September …. At the Inn From the Cold Building in NM. As part of this provincial strategy to run a mock election around poverty issues, lawn and window signs were produced that stated – I’m voting for a poverty Free Ontario. We distributed over 100 signs in YR. We also produced the buttons for the campaign and disseminated them across the province to other social planning networks who were involved in this campaign. Attended All Candidates Meetings and Meetings for Candidates with the CYFS Forum of YR. Prepared questions to be used at the Candidates Meetings to bring attention to the public and the candidates of the need for increased social assistance levels and healthy food for all. Provided direction to the SPCYR as to how they could be involved in advocating on the issues and informing voters about the issues and how they could get involved. Presented our AAA Project to them and ways in which they could assist in advocacy. November – December 2011 Two presentations at the children, youth and families forum of YR re: the AAA project and how the forum can be directly involved in the advocacy work around income inequity as well as affordable housing. They are a member group of the HSPB so are involved by virtue of their connection to that planning table but have demonstrated much interest in using our AAA resources and training and also endorsing efforts to see SA rates raised and to invite the SAR Commissioners to YR for a community consultation. Various ways of working with the Forum are being considered and ways in which to use the Video and resources. Currently I participate on the Advocacy Subcomittee of this group. Community and Health Services professional development and planning day for Staff: Presented AAA Video and Project and participated in small group planning to discuss how to incorporate the Making Ends Meet objectives in the work of staff as health teams and inspectors. 190 January 2012 Presentations to Grade 12 Health and Nutrition Classes at Bayview Secondary School in Richmond Hill. Yvonne (staff) and 2 community advocates presented the AAA Video and powerpoint presentation “Poverty in our own Backyard” To two classes. Presented multiple options for the class to get involved in addressing poverty. They agreed to complete the Do the Math Survey exercises and also check out the Petition on line for the Healthy Food Supplement. Worked with the teacher to provide her with more anti-poverty materials and links between health and poverty to be used in future classes. She is going to share the success of the presentations with other schools and staff. Future – Dates TBD – Invitation for a presentation to the Civics class at Huron Heights in Newmarket. Developing another powerpoint to accompany the video that focuses more on the policital and economic realities of poverty that relates to the civics curriculum. Supported the application of one of our advocates to be a member of the YRDSB Equity and Inclusivity Community Committee that will begin in March 2012 and run for the next 4 years. We’re awaiting final decisions but this advocate, Kristine Carbis, a long time anti-poverty worker, and more recently outspoken advocate and presenter, has been wanting for many years to have inroads into the secondary school system in YR. This is a perfect opportunity for her and she would make a great addition to their committee in an advisory, membership position. Future Opportunity to be Explored for 2012 Webinar for Advocacy Training Purposes to share Strategies and Lessons Learned from Various campaigns held across Ontario this past year. AAA Project (Lead) PFIB (Lead) ISARC – Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition PFO – Poverty Free Ontario with the Social Planning Network of Ontario The STOP Community Food Centre – currently doing webinars to share their own strategies and successes; would like to build on that ****BREAKING NEWS: This just in – Planning Meeting on February 10th with York Region HSPB Staff for YR to Host Consultation with the SAR Commissioners in the coming weeks. 191 Final Evaluation Submission to Heart and Stroke Foundation on January 31, 2012 to secure second year of Funding for AAA Project - Evaluation Submission can be found at http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Notes for Future Powerpoints to Accompany AAA Video http://yrfn.ca/issues/poverty-1/advocacy-awareness-to-action/ Next Steps NEXT STEPS FOR AAA PROJECT Continual Presentation of the AAA Video and Discussion/Workshop on Request Advocacy Webinar with other Partners ISARC Poverty Free Ontario – SPNO PFIB – Provincial Freedom 90 The STOP Community Food Centre Continued Work on the Freedom 90 Campaign with Emergency Meal programs and Food Banks across Ontario - Working with Queen’s University and University of Toronto - Launch in Spring 2012 192 Other Objectives and Activities as outlined in the Grant for Year II - Advocacy Calendar Summit – Poverty and Health Connections “A Truly Remarkable Journey which we began with the phrase … Don’t ever let them tell you It Can’t be Done!”