Some 8,000 low income county residents could find it more difficult to keep a roof over their heads after the provincial government slashed a program aimed at assisting those who get into financial difficulties with their landlords.
“Nearly 8,000 people in our community will be at greater risk of homelessness because of these cuts,” said Gail Hoekstra, executive director of the Welcome In Drop In Centre. “This will create a lot of additional stress to these individuals and families that are already dealing with often complex life issues as well as increase pressure to the support services and programs in Guelph and Wellington County that will need to support them.”
Of the 8,000 people on assistance locally, some 1,800 are children.
The provincial government, in its 2012 budget, cut nearly $70 million for the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit and Home Repairs Benefit program. The programs provide funds for people on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support for costs such as first and last month rent deposits, utilities arrears and other housing related costs.
“Most of the people we work with, their housing is iffy,” said social worker Nancy Singer with the Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington County. “What I’m hearing for Ontario Works is the community start money is gone.”
Those working with low income families and individuals are warning cuts to the program will impact those in need and the county overall.
The clinic assists low income people with legal issues, including tenant-landlord disputes.
Singer said organizations that assist low income individuals are waiting to see how the cuts and subsequent regulations for people to get assistance will work their way out.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen because the powers that be haven’t made a decision,” Singer added. “Each region has to make their own decision on how they are going to use the homeless guideline strategy.”
The clinic also attempts to assist low income earners, unable to access additional funds when needed, to find money. The process means seeking out money from the Salvation Army or community churches, Singer said.
“These are critically important benefits that help vulnerable people find housing or stay in their homes,” said Reverend John Borthwick of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Guelph and chairman of Churches OutREach (CORE) a partnership of Guelph churches formed as a response to the growing need for assistance in the community. “People on assistance don’t even have enough money to pay for regular daily expenses like rent and food, let alone come up with large lump sums for costs like these.”
According to recent statistics, the average rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Guelph is about $803. A single person on social assistance receives about $372 for rent and utilities, while a single parent with one child receives about $584. In addition they may receive a monthly GST cheque of almost $30 and child tax credit.
The previous programs allowed those in financial difficulties to apply for assistance of up to $1,500 once over a two-year period.
It’s estimated it costs the county about $1,500 a month to house low income families in hotels, Singer said.
There’s about 128 emergency shelter beds available in the county.
“It is especially troubling that these cuts to social assistance benefits are being made just as the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance is about to issue its final report,” David Thornley, executive director of the Guelph Community Health Centre and co-chair of the Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, said. “The cuts pre-empt and undermine the important process of reform that will arise out of the work of the commission.”
The county is charged with dispersing money to people on social assistance
County social services administrator Eddie Alton said his department is still assessing the impact of provincial cuts.
“There would be more demand on the shelters if there isn’t sufficient funds,” he said. “There are changes coming, but the total impact is not known at this time.”
Alton said the county always attempts to get low income people into rent-geared-to-income units.
“We have more demand for those housing units then we have,” he added.
Advocates for low income people are calling on residents to contact their local MPPs to register their concerns.
