ISARC - Social Audit Waterloo Region

The pain was palpable
ISARC Social Audit 2010 Waterloo Region, February 25
by Brice Balmer, ISARC Director [article in ISARC e-newsletter, March 2010]

“I just need a break to get a job,” said a rural woman living on social assistance.

“I never expected to be here (in this situation),” reflected a man living with a mental health issue. “I want to finish high school and go to college or university,” declared a young man living in transitional housing.

“I’m glad I live in Canada,” said a new Canadian woman, “I’m poor but my children and I have freedom.”

These three are typical of the 80 people ISARC heard on February 25 in the Waterloo Region. People who are resilient in the midst of poverty. Finding employment and breaking the cycle of poverty is key for many but they need more supports and more income to move forward.

The first of the 2010 Social Audits conducted by Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition (ISARC) was held in Waterloo Region on Thursday, 25 February 2010. Forty volunteers in four teams visited 19 locations in the region: soup kitchen, food bank, Aboriginal organizations, rural and urban community centres, social service and health care groups.

The United Nations Human Rapporteur approach was used again this year, necessary since 1998 when many were afraid to testify because they feared provincial government reprisals on their social assistance, to their community centres or to their region. The fear was less this time, but many still felt stigmatized because of low incomes and worried about their children who could not participate fully in the school system. Some high school students needed bus tickets which their parents could not afford; others needed uniforms and had to pay course fees. Younger children did not go on school trips because of costs.

The Rapporteurs or listeners included pastors, staff from the Chamber of Commerce, an Ontario Social Assistance Review Advisory Committee Member, a retired Member of the Provincial Parliament, a retired nursing instructor, lay leaders from churches, a leader in the African-Canadian association, and a member of the Ontario People’s Blueprint. They were transformed as they listened to people’s experiences.

“The pain was palpable in the voices.”
“Access to education breaks the cycle of poverty…. The public school system needs to be reformed.”
“In Canada, the government takes care of its people. Today’s visits were snapshots of just how that does and does not happen.”

Those testifying also had questions because they did not understand, “How come Canada is so rich and yet has so much poverty.” One woman said, “I thought I was back in Africa again when I saw the homeless in downtown Kitchener. Why?” Others said, “So much goes to Haiti but what about the poor here?” They supported helping Haitians but didn’t understand why monies were scarce for community centres, health care, and support services here in Canada.

Barriers to breaking the cycle included better, less expensive transportation, more affordable housing, increased social assistance rates and higher minimum wage, more dental care especially for adults, and access to doctors. The rural hearing focused on lack of services in small towns. To go to the cities, people needed transportation and many did not have cars. Bus service was infrequent. They liked the rural lifestyle but were finding it difficult and expensive.

Workers in social assistance and other programs were criticized because they didn’t give out all the information people needed to know. Often people found out through friends and neighbours that they were entitled to additional benefits. Because of lack of money, many become more isolated.

Stigma was difficult and many did not tell friends and family that they were on social assistance. Even their children did not know until they were unable to pay for some of the basics or school fees. Children then felt that they needed to help their parents and never asked for anything. They didn’t expect to participate fully in school and gave up expectations about careers and higher education.

A man who described himself as “new poor” said he had no idea of how difficult it was to obtain social assistance and that he had use up his RRSP and sell his home, his car, and all his assets so he only had $500 before applying for Ontario Works. “How does one survive?” he asked.

Closures of English as a Second Language classes in neighbourhoods meant that mothers did not learn English because they could not get to a central facility. They were more trapped in their homes and more isolated. People then asked when other programs are going to end and whether vital community centre and support services are going to remain in the midst of “government belt tightening.”

The ISARC Social Audit in the Waterloo Region will be reported locally and then a provincial report will be written over the summer and published in the fall of 2010. Some people wondered if their stories would help. Others said, “Well, at least you listened. Most people don’t listen and don’t hear.”