What’s Happening Now? - a story update

 By Kendall Worth!


A women came to me, over Thanksgiving weekend, wanting to know if had started my own blog after she last saw me writing in the Advocate. She knew that Robert died over a year ago. She was very happy to hear that I do, in fact, have my own blog, as she emphasized that this advocacy must continue! She wanted to tell me her story, about recent events in her life.


But First:

I did a story on this person right after I first met her. Later I did an update on her story and covered the situation she had then. Then in this story, also about her, she talked about how her surgery went well, but someone arranged to have police checks done on her which were not appreciated.Lastly, I wrote a story related to her experience of stigma associated with being on welfare. 


Her Current Story: 

 


 

She feels like she is once again living the life of social isolation just like its described in the earlier stories. (above) Her Doctor recently put her off work because of medical issues she is experiencing.. Because of these same medical issues her Doctor wants her to stay close to home, except for attending medical appointments including blood-work.

I should mention, one thing is different now. In-addition to receiving $950.00, (When I originally reported on her situation, the rate for Income Assistance was then only $810.00 a month) and not only did she got the recent increases - e.g. the $40.00 increase in 2020, and the $100.00 Increase in 2021 -- but she is now getting a rent subsidy of $371.00 a month. Without that subsidy she would be at risk of homelessness.

These days, her health has taken a turn for the worse, meaning she is now off work from her 2 day a week job. The possibly of being admitted to hospital is in the works, but she is optimistic she can avoid that… Because of her current medical condition – balance issues and valve problems - she has recently started walking with a cane. Doctors orders means she also cannot attend church service’s on Sundays, meaning her life has become even more socially isolated.

She was very happy to have my company on Thanksgiving Weekend. However, she told me that the people from her church who helped her out the last time, she had medical issues, are saying No they will not help her out like they did then. She needs help because either hospital staff will ask, or she can envision problems arising from issues like: Who’s going to drive you home if you have nobody? How are you going to get to the Food Bank if you need to stay in bed for weeks? How are you going to keep your apartment clean and tidy? And what about the social isolation?

The folks who helped before cannot or will not help this time, This time around these same people are saying no they will not help her out like they did then. They are more wary about wanting to help her out like the last time because they are all older people and scared because of COVID -- they fear they are going to catch it. So they are saying no on account of this. Her church has also changed pastors since she had previous surgeries. The new Pastor wants things to be more professional when it comes to the church members helping people. The fact that she does not have many friends to socialize with is part of her problem.

Her Doctor wants her to avoid taking buses. It is frustrating because this means she will have to pay out of her own pocket for a taxi for upcoming appointments to get help with her Housing Subsidy Renewal application, taking her pay stubs to Community Services on the 14th of this month, and doing business at her bank. She cannot afford internet at home, so doing online banking is not an option. Her Doctor wrote a note to her Income Assistance Caseworker asking if she can get internet covered temporarily so she can stay close to home, do as much of her business, as she can, from home online, and the Income Assistance Caseworker said No. The worker explained this is not something Income Assistance covers, even as a special need, even with medical documentation and reasons. Income Assistance will not cover the cost of cabs for these appointments because they are not Medical Appointments.


She is facing a lot of anxiety out of fear of the unknown these days.






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