'THE NUMBERS JUST DON'T ADD UP'

TOO MANY ARE STRUGGLING WITH LOW INCOME AND UNAFFORDABLE RENT, WRITES TOM COOPER

Too many members of our communities are struggling with low incomes and unaffordable rents.

People experiencing poverty were hardest hit by the economic impact of the pandemic but had the fewest resources to be able to respond to the once-in-acentury public health crisis.

Ontario's two social assistance programs, Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are often the last recourse for those without anywhere else to turn for income support; but rates are so low that it is impossible to meet basic needs such as food and shelter.

This broken system forces recipients into an endless cycle of poverty from which it becomes impossible to escape.

To make matters worse, the provincial government has frozen rates for the social assistance programs since 2018 while costs for shelter and food have been skyrocketing.

Inflation is at its highest rate in 30 years.

If you are living on a fixed, frozen income of $1,169 a month, for those on ODSP, or $733 a month if you are on Ontario Works, impossible choices about survival become your daily reality.

Most of the people relying on food banks in our area are on provincial social assistance programs because those rates are so low.

Even in the last year, basic staples like eggs, bread and fresh produce have seen huge price spikes, which impacts those surviving on low incomes the most.

Trying to keep your housing while on social assistance? Good luck!

Year over year, rents in Burlington rose by 12 per cent while Hamilton tenants saw rent increases of eight per cent between 2021 and 2022, according to Rentals.ca. The average one-bedroom apartment now rents for $2,000 in Burlington and more than $1,500 a month in Hamilton.

So, if you are on social assistance, the numbers just don't add up. That's why we've seen such an intense increase in homelessness. And it costs much more to both society and the individuals experiencing homelessness to deal with losing housing than it would be to provide adequate supports to prevent homelessness in the first place.

Livable social assistance rates need to become a critical part of the provincial election campaign. Ask your local candidates what their plans are to help the nearly 900,000 people in Ontario trying to survive on Ontario Works or ODSP.

On May 18, the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton, along with Community Development Halton, will be cohosting an online forum.

Join us to discuss Income Security in Ontario. Visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/show-us-themoney-income-securityin-ontario-election-2022tickets-314484841627.

Tom Cooper is director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and a member of Torstar's Hamilton Advisory Council. Reach him at @tomcoopster on Twitter.