We need a government that cares about people living in poverty
My name is Tamra, and I’m living on the Ontario Disability Support Program. Eight years ago, I was in a head-on collision and have been dependent on social assistance ever since. I cannot cover my expenses on the $1,169 I receive every month. I feel helpless — on a fixed income and rising prices everywhere, from rent, groceries, utilities and fuel prices, the stress is unbelievable.
I feel the world closing in on me, and it’s getting worse with rising inflation. I don’t live in the GTA, but in a small town. Unfortunately, our rents are set at GTA rates, as most of the rental properties are owned by big corporations in big cities, and they charge the rates of the big cities.
My story is not unique. I know of many people in my community living on the edge of homelessness or starvation. Please take a few minutes to think of those less fortunate. This situation could happen to anyone at any time. It just takes one accident, one job loss and this could be you.
The head-on collision left me with severe whiplash. It took months to begin physiotherapy as my back was too swollen to be treated. This too developed into degenerative bone disease in my neck and back, mostly on my right side. I have issues with using my right arm and hand due to nerve damage. I needed a therapeutic bed and pillow, which was very expensive. I am in constant pain, back spasms prevent me from sitting, standing or walking for long periods of time. It also limits the time I spend driving, which means I can’t visit my 91-year-old mother or 16-year-old granddaughter very often.
Due to my health issues, I am no longer able to work. I had a decent-paying job, bringing in almost $2,000 a month. When my unemployment ran out, Ontario Works gave me $721 a month, a big drop from my former income. I had to borrow money from family, knowing I would probably never be able to pay it back. It took over 18 months to be accepted on ODSP. The $1,169 is better, but still not enough to pay rent, food, and other necessities. There are no luxuries, such as meals out, new clothing, or even a trip to a hairdresser. I pay $870 a month for rent, and can’t afford to move to a safer building, even if affordable housing were available.
All my clothing comes from thrift stores. But, even those prices are rising, making it difficult to afford more than an item or two. The food I buy is the cheapest I can find, no more fresh fruit and vegetables or good meat. The food provided by food banks is usually expired or about to expire, and the portions are always small.
I know I am not the only one in this situation, but this is my story.
The PC government hasn’t given a cost-of-living raise for social assistance in 37 years. They even cancelled a slight increase when they took office in 2018. Yet inflation has kept rising. Poverty costs everyone: the annual cost of poverty in Ontario has been measured at least $27.1 billion from loss of tax revenue and increased expenses in the health and justice systems (Lee and Briggs, “Feed Ontario, 2019: The Cost of Poverty in Ontario”).
We need to have the rates of OW and ODSP raised to meet rising inflation. People are starving or are homeless because we can’t afford the price of food or a decent home. We need a new government — one who cares about people who have fallen into poverty.