gwpoverty.ca

Social Assistance Review: Local Response

PTF_Admin_1 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:18:04 +0000

The following information has been prepared to help inform a local response to the Social Assistance Review.

Background & Summary of Issues – This document provides background about the social assistance review, including how it started and next steps, and summarizes the issues in Discussion Paper 2: Approaches to Reform.

How to Provide Input – This document provides details on how you and/or your group or organization can provide input to the review at the local level, as well as directly to the Commission.

Social Assistance in Guelph-Wellington – Ontario Works

Social Assistance in Guelph-Wellington – ODSP

Social Assistance Review: Online Survey

PTF_Admin_1 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:12:05 +0000

The survey is available HERE.

This survey is being used to collect feedback about improvements that could be made to the social assistance system in Ontario.

Please note that some of the questions in this survey refer to technical and complex parts of the social assistance system and it may be best for some people to complete the survey after reading the report – although not a requirement. It is understood that not everyone will be able to answer all of the questions and we welcome you to leave those questions blank.

Social Assistance Review: Facilitation Guide

PTF_Admin_1 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:08:57 +0000

Some groups and organizations have opted to facilitate their own community conversations to collect feedback for the Social Assistance Review. The Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination has prepared a facilitation guide to help those that have chosen this option. The facilitation guide covers:

Background infromation about the review
Proposed agenda
Summary of issues identified by the Commission
Questions for discussion

The facilitation guide can be downloaded here: PTF Facilitation Guide

Social Assistance Review Local Response

PTF_Admin_1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:21:42 +0000

On February 2nd, 2012 the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario released Discussion Paper 2: Approaches for Reform. This paper advances dialogue with Ontarians which began in June 2011 with the release of Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas, and continued over the summer and fall through community conversations. The Commission is requesting feedback on the options presented in Discussion Paper 2 by March 16th, 2012.

In an effort to engage with people and organizations with diverse perspectives on social assistance, the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, with the support of other community partners, would like to invite groups and organizations, including staff, volunteers and clients, to consider providing feedback by taking advantage of one or more of the following options:

1. Take an online survey

2. Facilitate your own consultation session

3. Host a consultation session with our support

More information on the three options is available HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact Randalin Ellery, Coordinator, Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination, by phone 519-821-0571 x29 or email gwpoverty@gmail.com.

Poverty Free Ontario Response to Social Assistance Review

PTF_Admin_1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:14:19 +0000

Poverty Free Ontario has put out two important documents in response to Discussion Paper 2 released by the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario earlier this month.

1. Analysis and response to Discussion Paper 2 is available HERE.

2. Call for Cross Community Action on the Social Assistance Review is available HERE.

Metcalf Foundation: The “Working Poor” in the Toronto Region

PTF_Admin_1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:04:31 +0000

On February 13, 2012, the Metcalf Foundation released a report on the working poor in the Toronto Region. The report considers employment trends in Toronto, Ontario, and Canada, poverty rates in Toronto, and maps working poverty in the Toronto region.

The full report is available HERE.

Campaign 2000: 2011 Report Card on Child & Family Poverty in Canada

PTF_Admin_1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:01:38 +0000

On February 6, 2012, Campaign Ontario 2000, a cross Ontario coalition of over 60 organizations committed to working together to end child and family poverty in Canada, released its 2011 report on child and family poverty in Ontario. The report looks at child and family poverty rates, employment insecurity, social assistance, mental health, child care, and affordable housing in Ontario.

A one page synopsis of the report is available HERE.

The full report is available HERE.

Social Assistance Review: Discussion Paper 2 Released

PTF_Admin_1 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:47:12 +0000

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has released Discussion Paper 2: Approaches for Reform and What We Heard: A Summary of Discussion on Social Assistance. You can find both papers HERE.

Feedback on Discussion Paper 2 is required by March 16th. The Poverty Task Force will be planning opportunities to collect community feedback. More information to come.

You may email your comments to socialassistancereview@ontario.ca or mail submissions to:

Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario

2 Bloor St. West

Toronto, ON

M4W 3E2

Guelph Food Bank Bus Service

PTF_Admin_1 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:35:28 +0000

The Guelph Food Bank is offering a new bus service for clients to help get their groceries home.

The monthly service will be available the fourth Wednesday of every month from 12:15pm – 2:30pm.

Community members can catch the bus to the Guelph Food Bank from the following Neighbourhood Groups: Grange Hill East, Brant Avenue and Parkwood Gardens.

For more information on how to access the bus, please click HERE.

STEPS – February 2012 Calendar

PTF_Admin_1 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:02:07 +0000

The STEPS 2 year program is a vehicle toward the path of opportunity, providing ongoing ability for intervention at critical moments in a youth’s life and acting as a vehicle for social and individual change. Through a cross-sector alignment of like-minded agencies and collaboration with youth, the STEPS program will achieve its goal of engaging community partners and at-risk youth to provide prevention-level healthy, recreation and leisure programs for Guelph and Wellington youth, in order to facilitate community integration, provide opportunities, and promote healthy decision making.

Please click HERE for STEPS programming for February 2012 for youth in our community. You are encouraged to print, post and distribute widely!

For more information, contact Eric Pool at aftercare@wyndhamhouse.org or 519-822-2768.