A follow-up to my Open Letter of January 8th, 2023

By Kendall Worth!

 

 

To those living in poverty and supporters;

Thanks to everyone for their support. I do hope that, in the very near future, a Union Of People Living In Poverty is up and running. If it was, then they could be fighting things like the 60% increase usage in Food-Banks which I wrote about here. That is is unacceptable and if the Union Of People Living In Poverty already existed they could be fighting for better!

Since posting this letter, I have had feedback and suggestions on improvements to the proposal. Some people suggested my letter could have been more effective and got better responses, if I provided more solutions. Some have asked me Why I, and others, don’t just approach ACORN.

Before I get to some solutions, I want to answer why we will not approach ACORN to take this on? My community, and I, actually have a lot of respect for them. Contacting ACORN resulted in determining that, at this time, their primary goal is to achieve landlord licensing in Halifax and most of their work is in the background (lobbying primarily and working with city planners) rather than the foreground with demos, petitions, organizing individuals etc. At the moment fighting for improvements in Income Assistance is not a part of their campaign. They are currently under resourced and have been difficult to contact – although a new organizer is now onboard, and did get back to me, very quickly. Let me reassure you, they do good work but they focus on specific campaigns (and it all helps people living in poverty) but it does not this year include the work that I think we need to focus on at the moment. That work includes:

• Fighting Inflation,

• Increasing income assistance rates,

• Providing more “affordable” non-market housing, and reducing the Homeless population

• Demanding that the Nova Scotia Rent Cap continue after the legislated end, December of this year. (this may be part of what ACORN will fight for as the year goes on)

• Fighting an expected 60% increase in food bank usage, this year

Now as for answering the other questions, and feedback, on the January 8^th letter,

One of these questions was around solutions for getting First Voice people to participate and come forward about their situation, living in poverty. What would encourage them to come forward?

The answer – People do not come forward about their situation is because they are scared. That fear is often due to fear of stigma from better-off folks, or fear of repercussions from Community Services. However, there are some, if not many, who do want to come forward. Some are only going to show up at events if they know they are otherwise going to get free food by attending. Too often, times for protest, at the legislature for instance, means missing their meals at places like Souls Harbour and Hope Cottage.

So to assist, unions or other wealthy progressive organizations could:

• Offer them honorariums to show up, or free cards for food (grocery store, Tim’s etc.)

• Have a food truck on stand-by offering them free meals.

• In advance of event, (like demo at the legislature) form an outreach team of 2 or 3 people to go and visit the locations where people in poverty are to be found, and ask them to attend.

Those are the solutions.

Another question that came up is how can NGO’s, City Councillors and MLA’s do to help?

What they can do is Pass the word that an organization that needs more First Voice folk – from those living in poverty - is getting started, and we need their participation!

It is going to take a lot to get this organization – A Union of People Living in Poverty – up and running, but, I believe (as do others!) that we can get there. We are in a time of a need for a campaign to get started. I will let people know that myself and 2 other contacts are slowly working on contacting First Voice who may be willing to come forward.

Lets get Campaigning started!

Cc:

Nova Scotia MLA’s

Halifax Regional Councillors

Local MP’s

Executive Directors of Food Banks and Soup-Kitchens

Unions

The Nova Scotia Basic Income Group

North End Community Health Centre

Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council

And any other party who can help!