United Way Elgin Middlesex is calling on the provincial government to substantially increase social assistance rates in Ontario.
According to the non-profit organization, the current rates fall short of meeting the basic needs of recipients, leaving them to struggle below the poverty line. To correct that, United Way wants to see Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates doubled.
“Social assistance is too low for people with disabilities, too low for families with children, too low for individuals in crisis," said United Way Elgin Middlesex President and CEO Kelly Ziegner. "This is taking a huge toll on our most vulnerable neighbours and on our whole community. It needs to be fixed. And we urge folks who believe poverty is not ok to unite with us in action."
United Way has launched a month-long advocacy campaign called "Make it Livable" to help push for the increase. It kicked off with a town hall event at the Wolfe Performance Hall on Monday night. Nearly 150 people attended the two-hour talk that featured a keynote address from Elizabeth McIsaac, the president of Maytree Foundation, a Canadian think-tank centred on evidence-based solutions to poverty. There was also a panel discussion on social assistance and poverty by Western University professor Cheryl Forchuk, King’s University College professor Jeff Preston, and Circles London coach Ashley Harp. The panel was moderated by Blackburn Media's Craig Needles.
Currently, a single person on OW receives $733 a month. This figure has been frozen for the past five years, according to the United Way. A single person on ODSP gets $1,308 a month. ODSP was increased by 6.5 per cent in 2023. Both monthly rates are below the provincial poverty line of $2,302 a month for a single person. Ontario's poverty line was calculated through the federal Market Basket Measurement and is based on cost specific goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of income.
“As the region’s largest non-government investor in social services that reduce and prevent poverty, we see people’s dire need for a livable, dignified level of income,” said Ziegner. “The status quo is too costly for them, and for all of us.”
In addition to wanting the current social-assistance rates doubled, United Way wants both OW and ODSP indexed to inflation.
The organization is asking area residents to endorse its push for increases by contacting Premier Doug Ford and local MPPs and sharing #MakeItLivable on social media.
United Way plans to present its request to increase social assistance rates to the provincial government by February 29 for consideration in the upcoming budget.